Patna, Jan. 12: Taking strong exception to alleged irregularities in recruitment of grade IV employees, the state police headquarters has ordered a stay on the joining of candidates selected for the post of buglers in the 13th battalion of the Bihar Military Police (BMP) stationed at Darbhanga.

The Telegraph had reported about the alleged anomalies in the recruitment process in the BMP on January 3. Taking a serious note of the report, the IG, BMP, recommended a detailed inquiry into the recruitment of grade IV employees in different battalions of the force.

Bihar director-general of police (DGP) Neel Mani said he issued an order on December 28 staying the joining of the six candidates selected for the post of buglers in the 13th battalion of the BMP after he learnt about the complaint of an aspirant, whose candidature was rejected.

The police headquarters also constituted a three-member committee headed by the IG, BMP, to look into the matter and conduct a fresh physical test,” Neel Mani told The Telegraph today.

The three-member probe team comprising IG, BMP, Arvind Pandey, DIG, Tirhut range, Pankaj Darad, who is holding additional charge of DIG, BMP, and commandant of the 13th battalion, Ajay Kumar, would conduct a fresh physical test of the selected candidates and the complainant.

Sources said the selected candidates were asked to join on January 2. The DGP’s office reportedly sought an explanation from the commandant of the battalion on the basis of a preliminary report submitted by the IG, BMP. The IG sought an immediate stay on the joining of the selected candidates.

Though Pandey could not be contacted, sources said he raised an objection over the nomination of the commandant of the 13th battalion as a member of the probe team. A source said he was the same commandant who had selected the aspirants for the job.

The DGP said recruitment of grade IV employees in other battalions of the BMP would be done as per schedule.