Bastar top cop who went after activists, journalists asked by govt to go on leave

CLOSE ON the heels of a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) hearing on January 30, and the controversy surrounding the recent attack on the home of activist Bela Bhatia, the Chhattisgarh government has asked controversial Bastar IG SRP Kalluri to proceed on “medical leave”.

While the state government claimed that Kalluri had asked for leave on health grounds, the IG said he was “under orders to proceed on leave”. During his tenure, Kalluri was repeatedly accused of rights excesses, and the alleged abuse and intimidation of researchers, journalists and academics who had questioned the police narrative in many cases.

On Thursday evening, the state government issued two orders, the first granting leave to Kalluri for a period of 90 days, beginning February 1, on health grounds. The second order stated that P Sundar Raj, a 2003batch IPS officer, would handle Kalluri’s charge in his absence.

Kalluri, however, put out a message on Whatsapp that read: “Dear friends, I am under orders to proceed on leave for unspecified duration. I am extremely grateful for the support you have extended to me.”

Responding to a query by The Indian Express over Whatsapp on whether he was asked to proceed on leave, Kalluri wrote: “I will abide by whatever government asks me to do. Otherwise I am fine...” In another message on a Whatsapp group, he wrote: “Bela Bhatia wins.”

Senior police officers said it appears for now that Kalluri would not return to Bastar once the 90-day leave period ends. “He was asked to apply for leave,” said a senior officer.

The wheels were set in motion for Kalluri’s exit on February 1, when Raj, said to be an officer who is “polite, works by the book, and has previous SP experience in Bastar” was appointed DIG (Dantewada range), with

Under orders to proceed on leave: IG Kalluri