Activists to challenge Pande's appointment as DGP

Ahmedabad, Apr 28 (UNI) Rights activist Teesta Setalvad today said her organisation, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), will challenge the appointment of ''controversial'' police officer P C Pande as the Direct General of Police of Gujarat.

Mr Pande, who was the police commissioner of Ahmedabad during the post-Godhra communal riots of 2002, had been criticised by activists and riot victims for his ''inept handling of law and order and failure to prevent large scale massacres''.

''We have decided to challenge his appointment. We are now seeking legal advice on how to go about it.'' She said the CJP had moved the Supreme Court against Mr Pande's appointment as CBI Additional Director (special crimes) in February, 2004 and the apex court had ruled that he should not be associated with any Gujarat-related cases. After this, he was shifted to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

''Now the situation is the same. The Supreme Court's directive still stands,'' she pointed out.

She said by doing this, the Government is trying to reward those who are perpetrators of violence.

Father Cedric Prakash, a social activist, said the appointment of Mr Pande was most ''unfortunate'' and that ''it showed the Government in poor light.'' UNI MMG GK RR BD2004