Police inspector Ashok Ghorband, who was suspended by the Maharashtra authorities pending inquiry into allegations of excesses in the course of the violence in Parbhani after a duplicate of the Structure was vandalised on December 10, was not meant to be stationed there on the day of violence, as per switch guidelines forward of the Meeting elections held in November.
Based on sources, Ghorband’s title was on the record of officers who had been transferred from Parbhani in June this yr however he managed to remain again and took sick depart in the course of the elections to keep away from controversies. He had been serving within the Nanded vary — of which Parbhani is a component — for seven years and was to be moved out forward of the elections. By intervention from a neighborhood MLA, Ghorband continued as inspector of Parbhani Native Crime Department (LCB), sources mentioned.
After the violence, 35-year-old regulation scholar Somnath Suryavanshi, who was amongst round 50 arrested on December 12, died in custody on December 15.
A senior official from Parbhani advised The Indian Categorical on the situation of anonymity, “Ghorband, who had been serving within the Nanded police vary, accomplished seven years in June this yr and a switch order was issued, posting him to the Latur Police Coaching Faculty (PTC). Nevertheless, it seems that attributable to some suggestions, he continued to remain on on the put up.”
When The Indian Categorical contacted Ghorband, he refused to touch upon the allegations. Nevertheless, sources near the officer mentioned that it was on account of the well being situation of a member of the family that he had requested for an extension, which was granted.
As per Election Fee guidelines, whereas an IPS officer who has been in the identical Commissionerate/district for 3 years, he/she must be transferred, officers on the degree of police inspector who’ve been in the identical vary for seven years need to be transferred forward of polls. That is accomplished in order that they can not use their clout to affect polls.
Since June 2017, Ghorband has been posted in areas that fall beneath the Nanded vary as Kotwali police station in Parbhani, Nanded Rural police station in Nanded and finally because the LCB chief in Parbhani. A supply mentioned that Ghorband was on good phrases with a neighborhood lawmaker. Whereas his title was current on the switch record, his software to not be transferred out was accepted, the supply mentioned.
An officer from Parbhani mentioned that even previously they’ve acquired complaints in opposition to Ghorband from the Dalit group. “Earlier there was a homicide of a Dalit boy by a Maratha in Parbhani. Ghorband, who was dealing with the incident, made some remarks following which there was bother and the IG needed to rush there,” the official mentioned.
He added that that even when he was being transferred to Parbhani in January, there was resistance by some senior officers in opposition to his switch as there had been complaints in opposition to him previously. Nevertheless, a month later, due to a former senior officer, Ghorband was finally transferred there, the officer mentioned.
Advocate Somnath Jondhale, who appeared for a number of of the accused, together with Suryavanshi, mentioned that previously, members from the Dalit group had given written complaints in opposition to Ghorband however no motion was taken in opposition to him. Sources near Ghorband denied all allegations and mentioned that there was no proof for the allegations, which can be made clear within the judicial probe ordered within the Parbhani case by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
An official mentioned whereas Ghorband was heading the LCB, the Superintendent of Police of Parbhani Ravindrasinh Pardeshi has been away on coaching from previous to this incident following which further SP Yashwant Kale has been holding cost for him. Pardeshi is slated to return to his posting later this month. Shahaji Umap, who’s a DIG rank officer, is at present holding the cost of the vary Inspector Normal (IG), a rank above his present designation.
“The posting of LCB chief is taken into account highly effective in a district. There was political interference in the case of who ought to be posted because the LCB chief in a district, particularly by native politicians. Since this was an election yr, the interference was all of the extra,” a senior officer mentioned. He added, “In a number of districts, native guardian ministers attempt to affect postings of officers who they really feel will cooperate with them,” mentioned a senior officer.
Violence erupted in Parbhani on December 10 after a person desecrated a duplicate of the Structure close to the Ambedkar statue, sparking anger among the many Ambedkarite group. Whereas a peaceable protest adopted the incident, acts of vandalism later escalated tensions.
Police arrested almost 50 individuals, of which Suryavanshi died on December 15. Preliminary postmortem report mentioned he died of “shock following a number of accidents”. After protests, Fadnavis suspended Ghorband pending judicial inquiry to search out out if extra power had been utilized by Ghorband.
Why must you purchase our Subscription?
You need to be the neatest within the room.
You need entry to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t need to be misled and misinformed.
Select your subscription bundle
