Lok Pal to inquire alleged nexus between police and criminals

Bhubaneswar, Apr 18 (UNI) Lok Pal will inquire into the alleged nexus between the police officers and criminals, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced here today.

Before leaving for New Delhi to attend a conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices, the Chief Minister said, '' There has been allegations of nexus between officers and criminals. I have requested Lok Pal to investigate into the matter. '' Earlier, Mr Patnaik had asked Director-General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda to inquire into the allegations and submitted a report.

The Chief Minister's direction came after Police Commissioner B K Behera spoke about the nexus between the Police and criminals in the wake of murder of marathon wonderkid Budhia's coach Biranchi Das allegedly by gangster Raja Acharya.

The Commissioner's statement had been made in response to questions in the aftermath of the murder of Judo coach Biranchi Das.

It alleged that Raja Acharya, the accused gangster, managed to elude the police prior to the murder because of his links with the police personnel.

Complying with the Chief Minister's direction the DGP had already submitted a report on the alleged Police-gangster link to the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the government had transferred eight police officers from the Commissionerate in a bid to improve the law and order situation.

The officers, who were transferred, included Mr H K Lal, Bolangir Superintendent of Police as DCP Bhubaneswar, Mr Amitabh Thakur, the DCP Bhubaneswar as Assistant Inspector General of Police Cuttack, S Priyadarshi, S P Cuttack transferred as SP Keonjhar.

While Mr Praveen Kumar will join as DCP Cuttack and Ms P Shiny will take over as SP Bolangir. Mr Rajesh Kumar will be the new DCP, Headquarters, Mr Jatindra Koel as SP Nayagarha and Mr Narasingha Prasad Bhola as SP Sundergarha.

Mr Mishra said the transfers were routine and were made as per the police guidelines.

He denied that the transfers were the fall out of the allegations and would have any impact on the ongoing investigations in the murder of Biranchi Das.

But Home Secretary T K Mishra said neither would he deny nor admit the nexus between the officers and the criminals.

Mr Mishra said the Commissioner only expressed his concern and had not made any specific allegations. One should not generalise and jump to a conclusion unless specific instances were given, he added.

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