Telangana police officer celebrates Cong leader's birthday at police station and is deported

Hyderabad, September 9 (IANS): A police officer in Sangareddy district of Telangana state has been directed to report to the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after celebrating the birthday of a Congress leader at the police station.

According to a statement from the Office of the Director General of Police on Monday, orders have been issued asking Vatpally Sub-Inspector Laxman of Sangareddy district to report to the IGP's Multi Zone II office immediately.

Senior police officials have taken a serious view of the incident in which a Congress leader's birthday was celebrated and a cake was cut at the police station.

Multi-Zone II IGP V. Satyanarayana has stated that disciplinary action will be taken once the report of the incident is received.

The birthday of Congress party's Metpally mandal incumbent Pratap Ramesh Joshi was celebrated at the police station on Sunday. The SI and a police officer along with the Congress leader cut the cake.

The incident in Andole constituency drew criticism from various quarters. The SI was criticised for organising the birthday party at the police station.

This is the second such incident in the state in recent weeks. Last month, some policemen in Warangal, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nandiram Naik, attended the birthday celebrations of Minister for Forests, Environment and Endowments Konda Surekha.

The event, which included a cake cutting and a speech by the ACP, sparked a dispute with the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party, which raised questions about the police's compulsory service and political neutrality policies.

The ACP, Circle Inspector (CI) and some other police officials attended the Minister’s birthday celebrations.

There was also chaos at the celebration when supporters of the minister set off firecrackers, injuring a girl.

BRS Chairman KT Rama Rao sharply criticised the police officials and asked the DGP whether the service rules had changed recently.

Warangal Police Commissioner Ambar Kishore Jha had served summons to ACP Naik.