‘Missing’ from active duty, seven cops served notice

LUCKNOW: After serving in the state police force for nearly 16 years, constable Krishna Kumar Singh suddenly vanished from his duty point in 1997. In the last 18 years, Singh did not return to rejoin duty and the police department did not have a clue of his whereabouts.

Yet, Singh was considered to be in service until a few weeks ago when deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Lucknow range, RK Chaturvedi reviewed a list of policemen absent from duties for the past several years. Finally, Singh was terminated from the service two weeks ago.

“When we crosschecked Singh’s whereabouts, we come to know that he was not interested in continuing his police job anymore. He had been looking after his agricultural farms in his village for the past 18 years and did not bother to rejoin duty even after several reminders from the department, so his service has been terminated,” said the DIG.

Chaturvedi said Singh was not the only cop missing from duty for the past several years. At least eight police constables of the state capital were found to be ‘absent’ when their records were scanned. And the number goes higher when the list includes other districts of Lucknow range such as Raebareli, Unnao, Hardoi, Lakhmipur Kheri and Sitapur.

“There is also Lucknow police constable Ram Adhar who has been missing since 1998. He also took up some independent profession and has not turned up for the job since. He even achieved retirement in March this year,” said the DIG.

Similarly, Ram Raj has been absent from duty for the last 10 years, while constables Ramveer and Surya Prasad have been missing for the last eight and six years respectively. Another constable Bahadur Singh has been missing since February 2012 and Shailendra Pratap Singh since August last year.

“One of Lucknow constables who has also been missing for the last six years has been lodged in jail for some crime. We are making more inquiries about him,” said Chaturvedi, adding that notices of departmental proceedings for indiscipline had been sent to all seven absconders and further action will be taken against them after analyzing their replies.

The DIG had also launched a drive to track down absconding cops of all six districts of Lucknow range.