Haryana police evasive on information about STF
It is astonishing as to why Haryana police is reluctant to share all information about the STF as the matter is directly connected with lives of people. The issue has also become complicated as its chief Ashok Sheoran has alleged frame up.
ALTHOUGH THE Special Task Force (STF) constituted by Haryana Director General of Police Ranjiv Dalal against hardened criminals has had no achievement to its credit during its one and half years tenure, but it became quite notorious for its acts of omission and commission. The actions of STF came into limelight when its members were caught on camera extorting money from a Panipat based jeweller in March last year. The office of the Haryana DGP said that the STF was formed to arrest the most wanted and notorious criminals, proclaimed offenders and bail jumpers in the state. However, the reply did no make any mention of its achievements. Interestingly, in his bail application before Punjab and Haryana High Court, the former head of STF Ashok Sheoran has alleged that he was framed in the case as he had busted a massive racket of adulteration of oil and petrol which had annoyed powerful people. The reply to the query, whether the then Hisar S.P. Navdeep Singh Virk had written any letter to D.G.P about illegal activities of S.T.F in his district and if yes, any action taken report on this letter is also evasive. The reply says that no such information is available instead of straightway admitting or denying receipt of letter from the Hisar S. P. It is to be mentioned that after having failed to get any response from the D.G.P's office for about one year, this scribe filed an appeal with state information commission, which directed the D.G.P. office to provide information under the RTI act by April 4, and appear before the commission on May 19. The entire issue has to be seen against the backrop of the controversy, which has erupted regarding the formation of the STF and the powers and role entrusted to it. Vishambhar Kumar Malhotra, the Panipat jeweller, who had provided crucial video footage to police also died under mysterious circumstance in July last year, amidst reports that he was receiving threats to his life. Malhotra was a crucial witness of the case. The D.G.P office has now requested the Home Secretary to provide information directly to the applicant about the query whether government was considering to hand over the case to CBI for investigations. D.G.P office has informed that STF was supposed to report to additional director general of police Law and order and its operational area was Rohtak and Hisar range and the inspectors generals of these ranges were informed about it. Again the reply is silent about the query about the criteria for selection of its members. The government had provided only two vehicles to the STF, which was supposed to work in Rohtak, Panipat, Sonipat, Jhhajar, Karnal, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani and Jind districts. D.G.P. office has also replied that the state government has served charge sheet under Rule seven of Haryana Civil Services (punishment and Appeal) rules. 1987 to Ashok Sheoran in August last year. Sheoran's reply to charge sheet has been sent to state government for necessary action. Besides a joint departmental enquiry is going against seven members of the STF.
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