Angered by the Maharashtra government’s decision to shift a popular Deputy Inspector General (DIG, Prisons) Bhushankumar Upadhyaya within two months of his initiating relief and rehabilitation programmes, 1,200 inmates of the Nagpur Central Jail went on a hunger strike demanding immediate cancellation of the transfer.Upadhyaya, a thrice-decorated senior police officer, was one of 78 whose transfers were announced yesterday by the state government.The strike was called off later in the evening after Upadhyaya spoke to the inmates, but the climbdown came with a rider: if the transfer order was not withdrawn, they threatened to restart the agitation.Upadhyaya, who belongs to the 1989 IPS batch, had secured the post on request and is himself stated to be unwilling to take up a new posting so soon. He has been asked to take charge as Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime).Speaking to The Indian Express, Upadhyaya said: ‘‘The inmates went on hunger strike as soon as they came to know of my transfer in the morning. I told them it’s government’s discretion and I must honour it, but they were not in a mood to listen. Later, the Collector sent his representative, who assured them that their feelings would be conveyed to the government. Finally, they broke the fast.’’Asked if he would like to stay on, Upadhyaya said, ‘‘I had asked for this posting and was working with interest, but if the government, in the larger interest, thinks I should do something else, I must honour it.’’Prior to this, the media-savvy Upadhyaya had worked in Nagpur for three years as SP, Rural, during which he cracked some major cases, and then for one year as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Traffic).After taking over on March 24, Upadhyaya had initiated rehab programmes including laughter, meditation and yoga sessions and health camps. He had also held a function to felicitate seven murder convicts, who had earned graduation degrees from the Yashvantrao Chavan Open University.Speaking about his work in the prison, Upadhyay said, ‘‘I have also ensured improvement in quality of food and started volleyball games for the inmates. I was planning to start vocational training for them soon. Basically, my intention is to get the feeling of guilt out of their minds.’’Upadhyaya is a doctorate in Patanjai phoenetics and has also written a book on Patanjali yoga.He is a winner of the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (2005), D.G.’s Insignia (April, 2005) for distinguished work, and Maharashtra Government’s Special Service Medal for his stint in Gadchiroli as the SP (2000).No mediaperson, however, was allowed inside the jail to verify the facts.
