Two constables have been deputed for the security of a GRP constable, who says his life is under threat from senior officials after he complained against their corrupt activities
Two constables have been deputed for the security of a GRP constable, who says his life is under threat from senior officials after he complained against their corrupt activities
The integrity of a railway police constable has so irked some of his allegedly tainted superiors that now he fears retaliation and has sought protection against them. As a result, the railway police has now had to designate its men to protect its own against its own.u00a0 
Khaki cover: Eknath Mane (in suit) walks with two police constables
currently acting as his bodyguards
Last Wednesday, the Government Railway Police (GRP) deputed two constables to guard constable Eknath Mane, who was suspended on July 4. "They suspended me after filing an FIR against me because I refused to do their bidding," Mane said. "But I continued to write complaint letters against them."
In July, Mane caught two persons who were thrashing a government employee in train. The CST GRP refused to register the FIR against the accused as they were sons of policemen. Instead, they registered an FIR against Mane, alleging that he assaulted the duty officer. Following the FIR, Mane was suspended.
After Mane's complaint (copy with MiD DAY) to GRP Commissioner Prabhat Kumar, which says that his life is under threat from three of his superiors seeking to settle score with him after his series of complaints against them. He further said that on September 21, his house in Vikhroli was pelted with stones to intimidate him into withdrawing them.
Mane, who was last posted at Byculla railway station, said, "I was given police protection last week. I feel my life is in danger from my top bosses after I exposed that they are hand-in-glove with hawala mafia and anti-social elements."
Last week, Mane also complained to CM Prithviraj Chavhan and Home Minister R R Patil, demanding a CID probe into whole matter.
Bone of contention
The reason for Mane's face-off with his superiors are his upright actions that have given them a bad name and caused them humiliation, he said.u00a0
In January, a commuter, Brijesh Singh, complained to him that that some unidentified people had looted him of Rs 4,600 in a pantry car stationed at CST.
Mane rushed tou00a0 nab the cxulprits and found that there were nine of them. However, he succeeded in overpowering them. The GRP registered an FIR (number 0002519, dated January 29) against them. But the next day, Mane found that only four of them had been booked. "A top cop had fudged the FIR, and I complained against him," he said.
Other such incidents have alienated top officials from Mane (see box).
Mane's expose on hawala racket earlier
In May, Mane caught two hawala operators with 2 kg of gold and Rs 32 lakh in cash on CST. The arrested duo had confessed in writing that they had paid two GRP officials Rs 10,000 per month for their connivance to the smuggling racket. Following their incriminating confession and Mane's investigations that corroborated their claim, the constable proceeded to complain against the officials but he was prematurely transferred to Byculla from CST.
MiD DAY had reported about the incident on May 28 ('GRP hand-in-glove with hawala operators?')
The other side
MiD DAY's repeated calls to GRP Commissioner Prabhat Kumar yielded no response.
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