Tribal archer Jhanu Hansda, who only last week wept publicly and accused her employers, the state police department, of discriminating against because of her ethnic origins, has been heard.
Hansda, who picked up three golds at World Police and Fire Games in the US this year, is being promoted to inspector, moving up a notch from her current rank of sub-inspector, along with other medal-winners who were yet to be promoted.
"I have seen the file of sub-inspector Jhanu Hansda, who joined the state police service in 2007. I think she should get her promotion by Thursday (July 17) evening," DGP D.K. Pandey said during his address at a function to felicitate seven medal winners at their Dhurwa headquarters.
Later, the DGP directed the sports directorate of Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) to send in recommendations for promotions of all medal-winners who had not been elevated so far.
On July 11, Hansda broke down and wept at an informal event organised by CID to honour her for her successful performance at the recently concluded international athletic event in Virgina in the US.
The ace archer, who has several world records to her credit, alleged the police department discriminated against her because of her tribal origins and had, therefore, denied her a promotion in the last eight years even though her contemporaries had been promoted.
"Promotion ke liye mere padak shayad kafi nahi hain (My medals, it seems, aren't enough for a promotion)" she said. "Adivasi hona mere promotion ke bich aade aa raha hai. Yeh Jharkhand ki niyati ban gayi hai. Khiladiyon ko unka haq kabhi nahi mil pata (My being a tribal is coming in the way of my promotion. This is what happens in Jharkhand... sportspersons never get their due)."
Her outburst came in the presence of several police officers, including ADG (JAP) Rezi Dungdung.
Hansda sounded happy when she was told of the DGP's announcement. " Bharosa hua. Acha laga, DGP sahib galat nahi bol sakte (I felt re-assured. It felt nice since it came from the DGP who cannot be doubted.)"
Asked about her allegations, she parried a reply.
" Jane dijiye (leave it at that)," she said.
DGP Pandey did not wish to comment on Hansda's allegations of discrimination. "The matter regarding her promotion came to my knowledge on Saturday and I took a note of it today (Monday). One should be forward looking and not discuss the past," he said.
In all, seven police personnel were felicitated on Monday, four of them women - sub-inspector Hansda (archer), inspector Aruna Mishra (pugilist) and constable Bela Ghosh and inspector Sujata Bhagat (both power lifters).
All won golds at the Virginia meet.
The men who were felicitated were sub-inspector Khursheed Alam, constable Balendra Kumar and dog handler Satish Kumar, who won medals at All India Police Duty Meet at Phillaur, Punjab.
Alam won gold for finger print collection, Balendra for portrait parley, while Satish Kumar won bronze for narcotics investigation.
