SHO shifted over Punjab pool raids

Adverse public opinion and media pressure over raids carried out at pool joints in Chandigarh on March 5, in which several youths were round...

Adverse public opinion and media pressure over raids carried out at pool joints in Chandigarh on March 5, in which several youths were rounded up and taken to police station, forced IGP Rajesh Kumar to order the transfer of Inspector Dhanraj Sharma who had led the operation.

Kumar also made it clear that this was not the final word on his part on the issue and further punishment could follow on the basis of the findings of an inquiry being conducted by SP (City) Baldev Singh. The inquiry into the March 5 raids — which rounded up 39 youths playing in various pool joints in the state capital, including a national-level snooker player — got a week’s extension today.

‘‘The transfer has been ordered as we were apprehensive that Inspector Dhanraj Sharma (SHO of Chandigarh’s Sector 34 police station) could have attempted to influence the findings of the inquiry,’’ the IGP told The Indian Express. ‘‘It should not be seen as any sort of punishment. Strong action will be taken against erring officials if the inquiry proves high-handedness.’’

The SP conducting the probe today recorded statements of Inspector Sharma as well as DSP (South) S.C. Sagar. According to sources, DSP Sagar has passed the buck to Sharma over the raids, saying that while the Inspector had told him pool joints would be targeted, he had no idea of the manner in which the officer would go about it.