By IANS,
Madurai (Tamil Nadu) : Three senior police officials were transferred following reports of violence during the run-up to the Tirumangalam assembly by-poll in Tamil Nadu, a government statement said Thursday.
“Indian Police Service (IPS) officials Amaresh Pujari, Prem Anand Sinha and Praveen Kumar have been posted as deputy inspector general (DIG), superintendent (SP) and assistant superintendent of police respectively for Madurai range, its immediate vicinity and Thirupparankunram (the town abutting Tirumangalam assembly constituency),” the statement said.
“All the three officials are directly recruited IPS officials hailing from outside Tamil Nadu – one of the conditions stipulated by the Election Commission,” a government official told IANS.
The names of the officials being transferred are DIG S.S. Krishnamurthy, superintendent of police M. Manohar and deputy superintendent of police K. Sundaresan.
Reacting to the transfers, a senior official here remarked the move would be counterproductive.
“By the time the officials comprehend the landscape and its characteristics, the by-elections would have ended. Further, the move will drive a wedge amongst the uniformed fraternity. Therefore, while these measures would serve no useful purpose, they would rather prove counter-productive,” he said.
“The Tamil Nadu government is willing to transfer any official as desired by the Election Commission on the basis of specific requests from the opposition…Our allies should not lift a limb or utter a word even in self-defence in the face of gravest of provocations from the enemies of democracy,” Karunanidhi said Wednesday in a government press statement.
He was reacting to Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta’s remarks made Tuesday after touring the constituency following reports of violence allegedly by ruling and opposition parties contesting the polls.
“It is a matter of distress. Lots of wrong things have happened in the last couple of days. It is very unfortunate. I am answerable to the Election Commission and would soon submit a report in this regard,” Gupta said.
Gupta was not available for comment.
Tirumangalam constituency is situated 400 km south of state capital Chennai abutting this temple town.
The polls are slated for Jan 9.