VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, May 30: Ranchi police have decreased the security of the family members of deceased cop Rupa Tirkey despite the order of the Jharkhand High Court to provide adequate security to her family members and witnesses of this suspected murder.
The CBI is investigating the suspected murder of a lady officer of Jharkhand Police, Rupa Tirkey on the order of the Jharkhand High Court.
“Earlier there were three cops for round the clock security. There were two female cops and one male. Now there are only two male cops,” said Devanand Oraon, father of the deceased cop who is a CISF personnel.
Each cop remains on the duty for eight hours as a house guard and mobile squad as required. As one security guard has been withdrawn, both security guards can provide security only from evening till 2 pm the next day.
“I was a security personnel remain on duty. I can protect myself but what about my two daughters Urmila and Nirmala who are in their twenties besides my wife who stays at home. Roughly, I can see that my family members remain without any security from 2 pm till 9 pm. My daughters have to go to college and a coaching centre. And during this specific duration, they remain unprotected,” said Oraon.
His daughter Urmila Tirkey said that there was one female security guard Soni Kumari who gave an application to Ranchi Sergeant Major Abhinav Pathak to relieve her from security duty citing some personal reasons.
“From March 30 onward, there are only two cops for security. We contacted the Sergeant Major requesting adequate security. But he has not responded so far. Both cops are very good and cooperative but how can we force them for overtime. Besides, considering the position, female cops should have been provided so that we feel comfortable and secure. We can’t go outside when there is no security. We can’t explain how vulnerable we feel. Of course, we are exposed to threats,” she said.
23-year-old Urmila Tirkey prepares for the competitive examination and attends coaching classes. Her younger sister Nirmala is a student at St Xavier’s College.
When contacted, the Sergeant Major said that the security is provided as per the direction of the Jharkhand High Court.
The Sergeant Major contended that the high court has given direction for adequate security that does not mean round the clock security. But when asked why the deployment was reduced from three to two cops, he said that Ranchi police has a shortage of manpower.
“We need force for the deployment in the panchayat election. Now, the by-election of the Mandar assembly seat has been announced for which additional security force will be required. Once the Panchayat election and Mandar assembly by-election are over, their security will be further reviewed and if required, we will provide four to five cops,” said the Sergeant Major.
26-year-old Rupa Tirkey was posted at the Mahila police station in the Sahibganj district. She was found hanging at her official quarter on the morning of May 3 last year. The police initially concluded it was a case of suicide. Later on, the police arrested her colleague Shiv Kumar Kanaujia for abetment of suicide. But Devanand Oraon, a CISF employee blamed his daughter was murdered by some influential persons and moved a petition for the CBI probe at Jharkhand High Court. The single bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi ordered the CBI probe while hearing the writ petition 139/2021.
