WAR OF NERVES BETWEEN DGP ADITYA ARYA AND HOME MINISTER RAVI NAIK

PANJIM: The war of nerves between the Director-General of Police, Dr Aditya Arya and the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik could be a thing of the past if the balance between IPS cadre and state police officers is restored.

It is learnt that the relations between the two got strained after an IPS cadre officer was made to work under a state police officer. The posting was seen as a demotion, causing the DGP to intervene.

The state has eight IPS cadre posts -- DGP, IGP, two DIG posts, SP (North and South) and SP-CID and SP-traffic training.  Sources revealed that trouble started when IPS officer, Mr Vijay Singh was asked to work as deputy commandant of Home Guard under SP, Mr D K Sawant, a state-level officer.  Although the state government retains the right to determine postings, the general rule is that IPS officer are granted cadre posting.

However, in reality the home ministry prefers to have its own officers in sensitive posts, especially SP (North and South). It may be recalled that SP, Mr Bosco George, who was holding the post of SP, North and was replaced by Mr Arvind Gawas even though an IPS cadre officer was waiting in the queue. With the exception of Mr I D Shukla who served as SP South, the post has been held by a local police officer.

It may also be recalled that Mr Veenu Bansal, an IPS officer, was posted as head of the anti-narcotics cell even though it was not a cadre posting. Although this posting created a flutter in the IPS ranks, it did not upset relations with the Home Minister as the then DGP, Mr Bhim Sain Bassi declined to take a stand on the issue.

The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat is arriving from New Delhi on Wednesday. He is expected to hold a meeting with the DGP and the Home Minister to resolve the issue.