In Bihar, a woman IPS officer takes on top cop

Patna: It is khaki versus khaki again in Bihar and this time it involves a woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and the State Director General of Police (DGP).

The Bihar Police has written to the state Home Department asking for the suspension of 2006 batch IPS officer Anasuya Rana Singh Sahu. According to the state police, which has prepared a dossier on her stint in Sheikhpura, she was trying to collect money through her bodyguard and her driver.

The state police's economic offences wing tapped the mobile phones of both the constables for over two months, and based on the transcription, showcaused Ms Anasuya. She was transferred out of Sheikhpura last week, and has yet to be given a posting.

But Ms Anasuya has now decided to fight back. After replying to the showcause notice, today she decided to charge none other than state DGP Abhayanand, for targeting her for what she describes as refusing to his "unreasonable and wrong recommendation."

She also said that when her bodyguard and driver are prima facie responsible, then action should be taken against them and not against her. "When I'm responsible for my driver's illegal activities, then shouldn't the DGP also face action for my lapses, if any?" she asked.

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Ms Anasuya also admitted that she has had heated exchange of words with her boss on two occasions over his pressure to implement what she describes as something which was not consistent with the law.

Today, when contacted, Mr Abhayanand refused to comment on the charges made against him, saying in Ms Anasuya's reply submitted to the state headquarters, these charges were not mentioned. "It's beyond my comprehension why such charges are being levelled in media," he said.

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This episode has once again exposed how divided Bihar Police has become these days and how the state DGP is facing criticism from his own juniours. Earlier this month, during the state DGP's meeting in New Delhi, he faced a lot of criticism from fellow colleagues when he read out his paper "riot vs lathi" on how to control mob without using minimum force.