Manish Tiwari | Chandigarh Taking a serious view of the mounting allegations of corruption in the Punjab police, especially at the district and commissionerate level, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta has directed all Commissioners of Police, IGs and DIGs (Ranges), SSPs and Commandants to put their acts together and ensure that such practices are stopped forthwith. Sources informed Daily World that the DGP has been miffed at the increasing corruption charges against police officers and has flagged his concern over the misconduct of some of the personal staff, especially Reader staff attached with the senior officers. He has told the senior police brass that such allegations lower the image of the government and the State police, and will not be tolerated at any cost, the sources added. It may be mentioned that there has been a spurt in the number of allegations of corruption against police officers and their personal staff, largely at the district and commissionerate level at a time when the Capt Amarinder Singh government has been striving to pursue its agenda of 'œgood governance'. Ever since his government was formed, the Chief Minister has been very particular to ensure that nobody is allowed to sully the image of the government by such allegations and has given clear instructions to the top brass to ensure that the acts of corruption are firmly dealt with at all levels. What has alarmed the Government and made it take the matter so seriously is the intelligence inputs and regular feedback from the ground that some officers are reportedly indulging in acts of corruption and misconduct, causing a major dent to the image of the State Government. Sources said that the DGP has been rather peeved over the practice of some CPs and SSPs taking their favourite police officers, including DSPs, SHOs, in-charge of CIA as well as their personal staff along with them from one district to another, and from one place of posting to another. A senior government officer said that the allegations of corruption against such staff and police officers have come to the notice of the State DGP and he has maintained that not only the image of the government and the police department is taking a beating but such charges are even tarnishing the image of the senior police officers who have been taking along their personal staff from one place of posting to another. Directing the heads of police wings and senior officers in the field, including the commissioners of police, IGs, DIGs, SSPs and commandants to ensure that such practices are stopped immediately, the DGP has also instructed to the administration/headquarters wing of the Punjab police not to allow any request made by the senior officers regarding taking personal staff from one place of posting to another. Gupta, said the sources, has told the top police brass that in future, any request to take along the personal staff by senior officers would need to have approval at the level of the DGP. It may be mentioned that the Punjab police recently drew flak when the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Government that police officers who have been charge-sheeted or convicted in a criminal case shall not work at a public dealing post. Hearing a petition filed by a dismissed Punjab police official, Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal in an order dated March 15, said that the Punjab government cannot act like an absolute despot at its whims and fancies by patronising certain officers while giving a step-motherly treatment to others. The dismissed cop, in his petition, had alleged that there were several police officers facing serious charges and some of them had been convicted but they were continuing in service. A few days ago, the State Government had to shift SSP of Gurdaspur Rajinder Singh Sohal who stands convicted in a criminal case after the High Court observed that 'œcontinuation of such an officer at the post of SSP who is the district head of the police force, would erode the confidence of the people in the police administration apart from being an affront to the rule of law. Therefore, the competent authority should consider transferring him from the post forthwith.'