Patna, Jan. 30: Bihar cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer M. Sunil Naik, posted as the superintendent of police (SP) in Maoist-hit Munger district, may quit his job.
The 2005-batch officer had proceeded on “protest” leave on January 17 after his bosses allegedly “pressurised” him to arrest “innocent people” in connection with the killing of 13 persons in Hiranmar diara last December.
Sources said Naik faxed a letter to the Bihar home secretary Amir Subhani on January 25 requesting him to extend his leave for three months. A copy of the letter has been forwarded to the director-general of police (DGP), Neel Mani.
Naik was earlier granted leave till January 25.
Subhani could not be contacted to confirm the receipt of Naik’s letter for extension of his leave.
Though Naik cited “personal reasons” for extending his leave, the sources said he was all set to quit. A native of Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, Naik had joined the IPS after passing out from IIT, Chennai.
Jamalpur rail superintendent Alok Kumar is holding the additional charge of Munger at present. With Naik going on a three-month leave, the police headquarters is agog with rumours that another officer would be posted as the superintendent of police of Munger, which is adversely affected with criminal and Naxalite activities.
If Naik quits, he would not be the first Bihar cadre IPS officer to quit the prestigious job and join some other profession. Around six IPS officers have bid adieu to the state over the years.
The Telegraph had carried a report on January 19 hinting at Naik going on “protest” leave after he failed to toe the line of his bosses, who had reportedly furnished him a list of 40 persons and asked him to arrest them.
Naik decided not to follow the “unethical demand” made after the killing of 13 persons in Hiranmar diara in December. Sources close to Naik said he was under “tremendous pressure” after the carnage.
Naik, in his thirties, went on leave two days after receiving award from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at the police reward distribution function held at the Gandhi Maidan on January 15.
His wife Padma, an MBBS, is expecting in a couple of weeks.
The sources said Naik was feeling uncomfortable ever since he was “furnished” the list of “the most wanted persons” and told to arrest them. He was even warned that he would have to face the music if he failed to follow the diktat.
The sources said the list was from very powerful quarters. He reportedly found that many persons in the list were innocent and they were not involved in the killing of the Naxalites and the loot of their firearms. The upright man decided not to arrest them.
Naik had assumed charge as the SP of Munger on November 18, 2008. “He was desperately trying to leave the state even before January 17, the day he left for his native state,” said a police officer posted in Munger.
