LARKANA: Six police personnel of Larkana were booked in an FIR registered on behalf of state for accepting bribes from various candidates for recruitment in police force.

ASI Ramzan Samo had lodged the FIR (No.84/2024) the other day against Sheet Clerk Imran Chandio, ASI Irshad, wireless operator Tarique Sohu, head constables Mithal Gopang and constable Nadir Abbasi working in sheet branch, and constable Samad Kalhoro posted at counter terrorism department.

The complainant said that he received secret information on Aug 5 that the suspects were receiving money from the candidates who were appearing in a job test for recruitment in police. The matter was immediately conveyed to higher officials and subsequently the FIR was registered, he said.

On Tuesday, SHO of Sachal police station submitted the FIR to the court of civil judge and judicial magistrate-II Awais Shah, who observed in his order that the matter fell exclusively within the purview of special court of anti-corruption. Therefore, the FIR was returned to the SHO for submission to the appropriate court or forum, said the order.

Sources in the SSP office said that Larkana SSP Mir Rohal Khan had on Aug 6 immediately suspended three officials working at SSP office, including Imran Chandio, sheet clerk; constable Nadir Ali Abbasi working in the sheet branch and constable Mohammed Mithal Gopang.

He said in the suspension order, copies of which were sent to Sindh IGP and Larkana DIG, that the officials were suspended on charges of collecting [different] amounts [of money] from various candidates on the pretext of their appointment in police department.

There was also a link to the officials of the testing service involved in this process, said the suspension order. The officials’ activities raised questions over the credibility of the entire recruitment process, pending inquiry into their conduct, said the SSP.

The SSP had in a letter sent to the principal of Police Training School Larkana on Aug 6 called for initiating strict legal and departmental action against ASI Irshad Ali, head constable Tarique Soho and Samad Kalhoro who worked under the administrative control of the school.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024