Bihar IPS officer fires in air during farewell party, lands in trouble

The Bihar government has cancelled the deputation of a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer after a video of him allegedly firing several shots in the air from his service revolver during a farewell party in Katihar went viral on social media.

Siddarth Mohan Jain, an IPS officer of the 2006 batch, was recently assigned for central deputation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Jain served as the superintendent of police in Katihar for around two years.

The state police headquarters has taken serious note of the incident and withdrawn the movement order for Jain for a central deputation and ordered an inquiry.

“The act was not in good taste and certainly against the code of conduct for police officers. We have, therefore, ordered an inquiry into the episode and withdrawn Jain’s movement order,” director general of police, Bihar, KS Dwivedi told PTI.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening during a farewell party jointly organised by the Katihar district administration and police association at the Railway Golf Grounds for Jain and Katihar district magistrate Mithilesh Mishra.

#WATCH Bihar: Celebratory firing by Katihar Superintendent of Police(SP) Siddharth Mohan Jain during his farewell ceremony (1.5.18) pic.twitter.com/avJKoF2gsy

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2018

Jain and Mishra are among the 69 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and IPS officers transferred last week by the government. Jain was sent for a central deputation to join the CBI and Mishra has been posted as the inspector general of police (prison).

They can be seen in the video rejoicing during the farewell party and singing the popular song ‘Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge’ from Bollywood blockbuster Sholay. Jain is then seen pulling out his service pistol and firing in the air. He fired till the magazine of the pistol was completely empty.

No one was injured in the firing but the irresponsible behaviour of the senior police officer has drawn widespread criticism.

“A thorough inquiry will be conducted into the entire episode and a report thereof will be sent to the government which will decide the future course of action”, Dwivedi said.

In another video, Munger’s outgoing superintendent of police Ashish Bharti is seen dancing with policemen and civilians on the road. He has been transferred to Bhagalpur.

The police headquarters has asked respective zonal inspector generals of police to probe the two incidents and submit detailed reports.

Celebratory firing in the air, still a tradition during weddings in parts of northern India, often turns deadly when stray bullets hit people.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times