Dalit constable sacked, ex-DGP among 10 booked

The Shimla police have booked a former state DGP and nine other police officers for allegedly harassing a Dalit constable and dismissing him from service over “concocted charges”, officials said. The constable had eight years of service remaining when he was dismissed from service.

Meena Negi, wife of dismissed constable Dharma Sukh Negi, said that she had apprised the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary (Home) and the Shimla SP in November 2023 of the “atrocities and inhuman treatment” meted out to her husband, she had stated in her police complaint.

The complainant alleged that her husband was tortured and dismissed from service on the basis of “concocted charges” on July 9, 2020, with eight years of service still remaining. An order was passed for the recovery of over Rs 1.43 lakh for the delay in vacating the government accommodation.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was lodged under Section 3(1)(b) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against a retired DGP and nine other police officers, the officials said.

The police said that the the FIR was registered on the directions of the IGP (Southern Range) on Monday, they added. The couple hails from Kinnaur district.