Rajasthan Rajgarh SHO suicide: Police station staff seeks transfer, cites pressure by MLA Krishna Poonia

In an application to the IG, police personnel of the Rajgarh police station have asked for their transfer, saying local MLA Krishna Poonia pressurises them and unnecessarily complains against them to senior officials. The SHO of the police station, Vishnu Dutt Vishnoi, committed suicide on Friday.

After the SHO of the Rajgarh police station in Rajasthan’s Churu district committed suicide, staff members of the station wrote to the IG and requested him to transfer them, citing ‘false complaints’ by local Congress MLA Krishna Poonia.

In an application to the Inspector General of Police Bikaner Range, that carried signs of at least 35 staff members of the Rajgarh police station, the cops urged for orders to transfer them elsewhere.

The police personnel claimed that Sadulpur MLA Krishna Poonia and her supporters have been pressurising them and registering false complaints against them to senior officials.

“Sadulpur MLA and her supporters make false complaints against the police station staff. Recently, four policemen were sent to the police lines in Churu after they fell victims of false complaints,” the application, dated May 23, read.

The request for mass transfer came after Vishnu Dutt Vishnoi, SHO of Rajgarh police station, committed suicide. His body was found hanging at his quarters on Saturday morning. The police inspector left behind two suicide notes. In one of these two notes, addressed to the SP, Vishnu Dutt Vishnoi claimed that he had been under stress.

In a chat with his friend, also a lawyer, the SHO had a few days back mentioned of his wish to take voluntary retirement, citing bad politics.

POLITICAL STORM BREWS

With the policemen accusing local politician of pressurising them, the BJP upped it ante against the Congress MLA.

The BJP alleged that Vishnoi’s suicide was due to political pressure. Targeting Krishna Poonia, BJP’s Rajendra Rathore accused the Churu leader of harassing the SHO.

“This is politicisation of police and because of the tying of hands of honest officers in the police force, Vishnoi committed suicide. This [SHO’s suicide] has been a huge blow,” BJP leader Rajendra Rathore said as he demanded a judicial probe.

WHAT HAS MLA KRISHNA POONIA SAID

MLA Krishna Poonia, a former Olympian, denied allegations levelled and said the claims are a part of conspiracy against her. As she demanded a high-level inquiry, Krishan Poonia, said she had spoken to the chief minister and urged an inquiry into the suicide so that justice is done.

As far as the demands of transfer by police staff, MLA Poonia said the allegations against her should be investigated.

“Should know how I pressurised the policemen. Did I ever call anyone or ever go to the police station and say something to someone? All this should be cleared. The Opposition is giving political colour to the matter for their political gains. People should also see my history and what I have done for the country,” Krishna Poonia said.

CID TO PROBE CASE

The Rajasthan government has, meanwhile, over the investigation of police officer’s suicide to CID-Crime Branch.

Police have already registered an FIR for abetment to suicide against unknown persons.

Read | Rajasthan SHO commits suicide in Churu; BJP targets Congress MLA Krishna Poonia, seeks probe
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