Accountant threatens to withhold cop’s salary for arresting family
The accountant does not have the powers to issue such a notice. We’ve written to treasury director, and he will be transferred soon
An accountant at the Churu superintendent of police (SP) office issued a notice threatening to not release the salary of a police officer,who had arrested his family members last month.
The police officer, Shayam Singh, the station house officer (SHO) at Bhaleri police station, said the accountant’s family members were arrested after they tried to occupy another person’s land at Kohina village.
“I sent a policeman to the spot who warned them not to do it and come to the police station with land documents to which they agreed. Later, we got complaints from the village; after visiting the village, we found them (family members) fencing the land,” the SHO said.
The police arrested the people from accountant’s family on March 25 under section 151 of CrPC (arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences). “They were claiming that they had bought the land more than 50 years ago, but could not get its registry done,” the SHO said.
Subhashchandra Mittar, assistant account officer at the SP office, issued the notice to the SHO on April 1, asking him to produce a proof of permission from higher officials regarding the arrest.
“In absence of the proof, his and another policeman’s wages for the month of March shall not be released,” Mittar said in the notice. The accountant also told other officials at the police station that their salaries would be withheld if they did not write on a stamp paper that they were not involved in the police action.
SP Barhat Rahul Manhardan has declared the notice invalid. “The accountant does not have the powers to issue such a notice. We’ve written to the director, treasury and accounts, and the accountant will be transferred soon,” he said.
Claiming that he owned the land, the accountant said police supported those who had been occupying it for decades.
“They (police) carried out official action, I too issued the notice in official capacity,” said the accountant.