ULB Polls: Two cops found campaigning for relatives, probe ordered against one

JAMMU: In yet another violation of service rules, two cops are reported to have campaigned for their family persons contesting the ongoing Urban Local Bodies elections from the city, following which the Jammu and Kashmir Police ordered an inquiry against one of them, even as action against the other is expected soon.

The recent incidents have come two days after complaints were lodged with District Election Officer Jammu against four government employees for “campaigning” in favour of different candidates.

The latest violations have come from two policemen—an Inspector and a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The duo came on police department’s radar on the basis of complaint lodged by candidates of other political parties, rival to the candidates the cops campaigned for.

As per official sources, a senior officer took cognisance of the complaints and ordered one of his subordinate officers to hold an inquiry into the matter and submit a report, accordingly.

“An Inspector posted as Station House Officer (SHO) in district Jammu came under scanner after he drummed up support for one of his relatives who happens to be a candidate in Urban Local Bodies Elections.

“As if asking people in person to vote for his relative was not enough, the cop in question also made a Facebook post, attaching a picture of his relative – a lady, on September 26 to garner support for her,” said a senior police officer.

Using Social Media for political activities are also in violation of state government’s new “Social Media Guidelines”, which it made mandatory for its employees to adhere to in the form of SRO-525, last year.

After the SHO’s post went viral, the senior cop directed Superintendent of Police, Special Operations Group, to hold an inquiry and submit the report.

Meanwhile, the said SHO, after coming to know of the action being initiated against him, has deleted the post from his facebook account, said a senior police officer.

Besides him, another police officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police posted in Security Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police in Srinagar, has also invited trouble for supporting his relative contesting the ongoing polls in Jammu.

“I will be able to give out details of the inquiry against SHO in a day. The other cop in question does not fall under my jurisdiction and hence, I may not be able to inform about any action being initiated against him,” said SSP Jammu Vivek Gupta when contacted by The News Now.

Pertinently, right after polling for phase-I of ULB polls ended on Monday, DEO Jammu Ramesh Kumar had informed The News Now of having received four complaints against government employees who were found campaigning for different candidates.

“A separate probe in this connection will be initiated,” he had said.