IPS OFFICER POSTED IN CRIME BRANCH AND WITHDRAWN WITHIN THIRTY MINUTES

PANJIM: The government at noon on Monday issued an order posting IPS officer Vijay Singh as the superintendent of police (SP), crime branch, but within 30 minutes, issued another order withdrawing the same.  Sources said the chief minister and home minister, who found themselves in an embarrassing position after the May 25 violence at Balli, first agreed to the posting of Singh-a 2005 batch officer and an SP by rank-to the crime branch, but, within minutes, changed their minds.

Chief minister Digambar Kamat, when contacted, said, "I am told that an order was issued appointing SP Vijay Singh as SP (crime). But I was not told when the order was issued. They can't issue an order just like that. I have asked the chief secretary to immediately look into the matter."

Sources said home minister Ravi Naik agreed to the posting on Monday morning, but sometime later changed his mind. "But by then the order posting Singh as SP (crime) had been issued and dispatched from the personnel department. So they had to issue another order withdrawing the first order," said sources.  They added that the home minister said "a decision on this will be taken at a later date".

Said a highly placed official in the home department, "An order was issued by the personnel department posting Singh as SP (crime) and present SP (crime) Mangaldas Dessai was asked to report immediately to police headquarters. But within half an hour, the order was withdrawn and it's as good as the order appointing Singh as SP (crime) had not been issued at all. The government will take a fresh decision regarding the appointment later."

Sources said DGP Aditya Arya had moved a file to the government suggesting that Singh be appointed as SP (crime) as Dessai has completed three years in the crime branch.

The police top brass felt that in the wake of the Balli incident in which two tribal youth were allegedly set on fire by miscreants, and amidst allegations by tribal leaders that the police along with some anti-social elements from the area were involved in the murder of the two youth, it would be ideal for an IPS officer to take over as SP (crime).

All cases related to the Balli violence were transferred to the crime branch immediately after the incident for "speedy investigations". The crime branch is presently investigating seven cases related to the Balli violence. Singh's appointment, it was felt, would bring in a sense of neutrality and trust in the police investigations, said sources.  The United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) has demanded that the cases be handed over to the CBI from the crime branch.