2 Tamil Nadu cops suspended after joining BJP on duty

Special Sub Inspector Karthikeyan and Sub Inspector Rajendran of Velipalyam Police Station were on bandobast duty at Avurithidal, where a roadshow was held by BJP state president K Annamalai. The two cops reportedly went to a stall where BJP was enrolling members and made a 'missed call' to the number required for enrollment in violation of their service rules.

Chennai:In a surprising turn of events, two police officers of Velipalyam Police Station in Tamil Nadu were suspended from service after they joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while on bandobust duty.

The incident occurred on December 27 in the coastal Nagapattinam district when BJP state president K Annamalai was conducting a roadshow 'En Mann, En Makkal' (My Land, My People).

Special Sub Inspector Karthikeyan and Sub Inspector Rajendran, were posted on duty at the roadshow in Avurithidal, a small town. Sources said the two cops went to a BJP stall where new members were getting enrolled. In order to become a member, one needs to give a 'missed call' from their mobile phones. Sources aid Karthikeyan and Rajendran, made a 'missed calls' on the BJP's phone number, in their uniforms, which is a clear violation of the service rules.

A senior police officer in Nagapattinam district said, "This is a violation of the service rules and a breach of protocols". The act was also captured on camera, he added.

Following the incident, a preliminary inquiry was conducted by Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police Harsh Singh on the same day. On December 28, the two policemen were transferred to the Armed Reserve wing.

A subsequent inquiry confirmed the charges against them, leading to their suspension by the Director General of Police (DGP) of Thanjavur Range, Jayachandran, in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officers Conduct Rules.

In response to the suspension, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has urged the top brass of the state police to reconsider their decision. Such disciplinary actions are based on rules and regulations, and any appeal would need to follow the due process, police said.

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