Jamshedpur Police Purge Controversial Figures from Peace Committees

Jamshedpur: The district police administration has launched a crackdown to remove individuals with criminal backgrounds or links to land disputes from central and station-level peace committees. The move aims to restore the integrity of these bodies and prevent their misuse by questionable elements.

Action Following Whistleblower Complaint

The administrative action stems from a formal complaint filed earlier this year by whistleblower and former BJP district spokesperson Ankit Anand. Anand petitioned the Director General of Police (DGP), Deputy Commissioner, and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), demanding the expulsion of alleged land mafia members, encroachers, and those facing criminal charges from the committees.

Following the complaint, IG Manoj Kaushik ordered a formal inquiry. Subsequently, SSP Piyush Pandey directed all Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) and Station House Officers (SHOs) to verify the credentials of committee members.

New Membership Guidelines

The police administration has now issued clear mandates to all stations:

• Background Checks: No individual involved in land encroachment, disputed property activities, or active criminal cases can serve on a peace committee.
• Surveillance: Police must maintain strict monitoring of suspicious elements and take immediate action if illegal activities surface.
• Credibility Focus: The administration aims to ensure that peace panels operate as legitimate bridges between the public and the police.

Ankit Anand, who previously flagged issues within the Telco Police Station and the Central Peace Committee, praised the administration’s decision. He suggested that the police should now recruit socially active youth, volunteers, and disaster management workers to modernize and improve community coordination.