Honest officer targeted?

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Are honest police officers being targeted in the department by having them transferred? On Wednesday evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Nisha James IPS was transferred as SP, Internal Security Division.

The transfer of the officer who is said to have been fighting against corruption, has raised many eyebrows. Nisha, a 2013-batch IPS officer, was in the news for ensuring transparency in the process related to transfers and promotions.

In June this year, she had initiated the transfer of police personnel working in the same police station for more than five years and also issued an instruction to reduce the minimum service period of police constables (from 6 years to 5 years).

In 2021, two constables who were reluctant to let go of their work at the BDA despite their deputation period having ended, were issued a warning by Nisha to comply with the rules. However when they objected, she suspended them much to their chagrin.

Several police personnel including First Division Assistants (FDA) and Second Division Assistants (SDA) had reportedly written a 13- page letter to top cops alleging harassment by Nisha. The letter alleged that James worked late in the night and in turn forced the FDA, SDA and other officers to work for long hours. It also alleged that she was cutting their staff increments for no valid reason.

"There are many officers who respect and appreciate Nisha," a police officer said on the condition of anonymity. "But officers are afraid to come out in support. We believe that her recent transfer is a conspiracy and this is not the first time an honest cop is shunted out," he said