Nagpur CP Nangare Patil disbands special escort squad after complaints against some members

Nagpur Police Commissioner (CP) Vishwas Nangare Patil has disbanded his special escort squad. Complaints had been received against some members of the squad and allegations of irregularities had also surfaced. The commissioner then decided to scrap the entire squad.

The team had about half a dozen police personnel. For the past few weeks it had been in the news for conducting surprise raids in different police station areas of the city. Its activity had cost station house officers and the DB squads of the police stations their sleep.

There is also talk in the police department that the complaint to the commissioner was made by those troubled by the squad's actions. It is being said that for about a month, a game of this kind has been going on within the police department. Recently, a list of defaulters or personnel collecting illegal money, posted at police stations, had reached Commissioner Nangare Patil.

He transferred the personnel on the list to other places. Many among them were neither involved in any illegal activity nor collecting any money. Those who did collect money escaped, but the integrity of the rest was tarnished.

The escort squad has now been dissolved following the complaints. In the past two months, the squad carried out many actions that should actually have been taken by local station house officers or their DB squads. The special squad acted against a range of illegal activities, including satta-patti, liquor, pan masala and tobacco.

However, questions had begun to be raised within the police department about the manner in which action was being taken at certain select places. According to sources, the team's continuous actions had put pressure on station in-charges and created an atmosphere of fear among them. The deputy commissioners of police of the zones were also wary of the team's activities, because the commissioner was directly seeking answers from the officers of the areas concerned.

Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil made it clear that disbanding the squad is part of his style of working. He said no police personnel should be kept in such a special squad for more than two months at a stretch. Staying in the same team for a long time can increase the risk of personnel getting entangled in irregular activities, he said.

He also said a new escort squad will be formed soon. The squad system is not ending; only the old team has been removed and a new team will take its place.