In a significant crackdown on internal corruption, the Rajasthan police has taken strict action against several officers following a covert statewide operation. The force suspended five Station House Officers (SHOs) and transferred six others to police lines on Monday. This decisive move comes after a vigilance-led decoy operation revealed serious lapses and alleged collusion with illegal sand mining activities.
Statewide Vigilance Sting Exposes Laxity
The operation, a carefully planned initiative by the state police's vigilance wing, was executed on December 18 and 19. It was conducted under the direct supervision of Additional Director General of Police (Vigilance) S Sengathir. Authorities deployed eleven special teams across multiple districts. These teams, posing as regular citizens, assessed policing standards, checkpoint management, and the efficiency of patrols.
A senior officer from the Police Headquarters (PHQ) revealed the alarming findings. "Our teams monitored how local police responded to illegal sand mining and transportation in their jurisdictions," the officer stated. "The identified lapses were deeply concerning. Many police stations were either willfully ignoring these illegal activities or actively working with the sand mafia."
Immediate Actions and Disciplinary Measures
Following the operation's revelations, the police administration acted swiftly. The five SHOs who were immediately suspended are:
- Surendra Kumar Saini (Shivdaspura, Jaipur South)
- Bijender Singh (Peeplu, Tonk)
- Prahlad Sahay (Baroni, Tonk)
- Brijesh Meena (Kotwali, Dholpur)
- Saini (Pisangan, Ajmer)
Furthermore, SHOs from six additional police stations were sent to police lines, pending a deeper investigation. These police stations are located in Gulabpura (Bhilwara), Kunhadi (Kota), Nanta (Kota), Lalsot (Dausa), Gangrar (Chittorgarh), and Luni (Jodhpur West).
In a related development, the PHQ has instructed Inspector Generals from the Jaipur, Kota, Bharatpur, and Ajmer ranges to speed up disciplinary proceedings against 15 other personnel. These individuals, from 11 different police stations, were also found complicit during the operation.
A Message of Zero Tolerance and Future Strategy
ADG S Sengathir sent a strong message, emphasizing that the department would enforce accountability without exception. "There is no place in the department for personnel who assist or ignore such illegal activities," he declared. The operation uncovered serious misconduct, including officers being absent from duty and showing negligence in enforcing the law.
This recent decoy operation follows a similar initiative conducted in November, which focused on general police conduct. Top officials have indicated that such surprise checks and undercover operations will continue across Rajasthan. This strategy is part of a broader effort to enhance police accountability, rebuild public trust, and ensure strict law and order enforcement.
