Neemuch police line rocked by suicide note claims:Cop alleges duty postings are sold, officers’ expenses recovered via illegal collections

There is no fund to cater to officers’ whims. Their expenses have to be managed from the police station and police line itself. Branch in-charges harass policemen for small tasks and the extortion game begins. This is what a police constable posted at Neemuch Police Line says. He doesn’t want to reveal his name, but he shared the entire operation running in the police line with the Bhaskar reporter. Not just one constable, but when the Bhaskar reporter spoke to the jawans posted in the police line and their families, everyone openly said that this is how things work here. In fact, Head Constable Hoshiar Singh, who was posted in this same police line, committed suicide by consuming poison in the police control room on February 8. Before suicide, Hoshiar Singh had sent a 3-page handwritten application to the DGP, SP and senior district officials. This is being called his suicide note. In this, Hoshiar Singh has raised questions about the entire system while making allegations. Bhaskar investigated 5 serious allegations written in this suicide note. Talked to jawans living in police lines and their families, including current and retired police officers. Read the report… First know what Hoshiar Singh’s family said Three days have passed since Head Constable Hoshiar Singh’s suicide. His family has gone to Rewari, Haryana with the body for the last rites. This family lives in Quarter No. 4 of Block M in Police Line. When Bhaskar’s team reached this block, Hoshiar Singh’s door was locked and the water bill was pasted. The allegations that Hoshiar Singh made in his suicide note were the same allegations that family members had made before leaving for Haryana. Hoshiar Singh’s wife alleged that there was bribery in the police line for duty assignments. Those who paid money either didn’t get assigned duty or got easy duties. Meanwhile, those who didn’t pay were assigned hard duties. However, police officers have dismissed all these allegations. 5 main allegations in the suicide note and their reality Regarding the five main allegations in the suicide note, Bhaskar reporter spoke with family members of police personnel living near Hoshiar Singh’s house. Everyone spoke openly on condition of anonymity. The police line officials’ perspective was sought on these allegations, and then retired police officers were consulted as experts to understand how much truth there is in the allegations made. Allegation 1: Are duties sold in the police line?
Hoshiar Singh in his suicide note and his wife have openly alleged that there is a fixed ‘rate’ for duty in the police line. Personnel who pay money get posted at comfortable locations or get fewer duties. Those who cannot pay are sent on consecutive hard duties without rest. Bhaskar’s Investigation: Off-the-record conversations with staff revealed that these allegations are largely true. The jawans said this is not something new. Many jawans in the police line are elderly or sick and cannot give 100% in the field. They want light duty, but this requires ‘sympathy’ from the branch in-charge or officers. This sympathy comes with several ‘expectations’, money being one of them. Women from police families said – Brother, there is pressure. We cannot say anything otherwise the staff will turn against our husbands. They will make it difficult to work. Husbands don’t even share many things with us. They keep struggling with problems. Meanwhile, a policeman’s college-going daughter said, ‘Papa always goes for accused presentations. Many times he asked for guard duty at the bank, but officers didn’t agree.’ Officials’ Side: Head Constable Moharrir (HCM) Pranav Tiwari denies these allegations. He says, ‘We don’t take money from anyone. Anyone can make allegations.’ Meanwhile, ASP Navalsingh Sisodiya says, ‘Many people don’t want to work, that’s why they make such allegations.’ Bhaskar Expert: While it’s difficult to say directly, it’s true that from districts to police stations, postings are influenced by political pressure. Officers are under pressure and they create pressure on their subordinates. Allegation 2: Is illegal collection done to cover officers’ expenses?
According to the suicide note, the RI (Reserve Inspector) and Head Mohrir would demand money saying ‘We have to bear many expenses of SP sir.’ This is a very serious allegation that directly questions the working methods of senior officers. Bhaskar’s Investigation: This allegation was also found to be largely true. The personnel reported that many station in-charges and RIs are burdened with such expenses that have no official budget. For example – arrangements for food, drinks and accommodation when VIPs visit, vehicle arrangements for officers’ personal tours, and ticket bookings for outstation travel. These expenses are ultimately recovered in some form or other from lower-level employees. Officials’ Position: HCM Tiwari and ASP Sisodiya completely reject these allegations. Bhaskar Expert: This has become part of the system. Many officers claim to be honest and don’t take money directly, but they get their expenses covered through station in-charges and other officers in different ways. This has become like an unwritten rule. Allegation-3: Are the gym and tennis court only for officers?
The suicide note alleges corruption in the construction of gym and tennis court and states that these facilities are used only by officers. Bhaskar’s Investigation: While direct evidence of corruption was not found, it was clearly visible that there is huge discrimination between officers and staff in these facilities. The roads in police lines are unpaved and dilapidated, quarters are in poor condition, but right there exists a luxurious rubber-coated tennis court covered with green netting. Staff reported that this court opens only for officers and constables are not even allowed to go there. This raises the question – when basic facilities are not available for jawans, what was the priority in spending lakhs of rupees to build a tennis court? Bhaskar Expert: It’s difficult to say if there was direct corruption, but when officers have the authority to spend funds, they prioritize their own facilities. It’s also futile to expect that they will share these facilities with the staff. Allegation-4: Are personnel harassed based on their old records?
Hoshiar Singh was on leave for four days and wanted to extend his leave, but he was not granted leave, which led him to take this step. Officers are accused of discriminating against jawans by looking at their old records. Bhaskar’s Investigation: This is a major and common problem. Even today, instead of investigating the causes of Hoshiar Singh’s death, officers are scrutinizing his old records to find when he was punished, when he was dismissed. Instead of taking the allegations in the suicide note seriously, attempts are being made to dismiss the case by linking it to the individual’s ‘bad record’. Bhaskar Expert: This is one of the biggest tragedies of the department. If a soldier has made a mistake before, they are always viewed through that same lens. They cannot be deprived of their leave rights. The government had made a roster for one day off every week, but it has not been properly implemented till date. Allegation-5: Do they harass by entangling in investigations and sending to line duty?
Officers are also accused that when they are displeased with an employee, they entangle them in false complaints and investigations and make them ‘line hazir’ (report to line duty), which is a form of mental harassment. Making an active field employee sit in line and do light duty mentally breaks them. Bhaskar’s Investigation: This allegation was also found to be true. Many times officers take serious action on minor issues to hide their mistakes, such as stopping permanent salary increments or sending to line duty by directing RI that ‘assign this person only for accused presentation duty.’ This leads the employee into depression, their promotion gets stalled and they suffer financial losses. Bhaskar Expert: Investigation is a major reason behind employee depression and suicidal steps. Officers sometimes entangle employees in investigations out of spite in such a way that they break down mentally. This is the most common weapon of harassment. Working under investigation, action and stress is common. In today’s time, postings happen based on political preferences-dislikes or money.