Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday, 13 October chaired a high-level law-and-order review meeting in Jaipur and ordered immediate disciplinary action against police personnel found guilty of negligence and misconduct. Following the meeting, the state police department suspended one officer, placed six officers on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO), and removed two officers from their current posts.

Key Actions Taken

Dhirendra Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Ver, was suspended, while Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Prerna Shekhawat was placed on APO. Five other officers were also put on APO: Neeraj Bhardwaj, Circle Officer (CO), Bhusawar; Anju Yadav, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Ajmer; Mukesh Joshi, CO, Sambhar; Vishnu Kumar Khatri, CO, Sri Ganganagar; and Mukesh Kharadiya, Police Inspector, Jaipur Commissionerate.

Additionally, Brijmohan Meena, ASP (SIUCAW), Jaipur Rural, and Jaya Singh, ASP, Khairthal, were removed from their respective postings.

What the Chief Minister Said

Sharma stressed that Rajasthan has traditionally been a peace-loving state and that its image and dignity must be protected through firm, impartial enforcement of the law. He asserted that the law applies equally to everyone and that no offender would be spared irrespective of identity or influence. 'There is no place for criminals in Rajasthan,' he said, calling for stringent action against organised criminal networks and the mafia.

He further directed officials to ensure that negligence at any level would not be tolerated in matters affecting law and order, and that accountability must be fixed wherever required. He also called for stronger monitoring mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Mining, Land Disputes and Women's Safety

The Chief Minister directed officials to prepare detailed, district-wise lists of disputes relating to mining and land and develop effective action plans to resolve them. On women's safety, he instructed officials to ensure the systematic functioning of Kalika Patrolling Units and directed engagement with schools and colleges to strengthen efforts aimed at preventing crimes against women.

Festive Season Security Directives

In view of the upcoming festive season, Sharma directed robust law-and-order management and smooth traffic arrangements across the state. Police personnel were instructed to take prompt cognisance of even minor incidents to prevent escalation into larger law-and-order problems. He also directed range and district officers to regularly review the situation in their respective jurisdictions.

Senior Officials at the Meeting

The review meeting was attended by Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar A. Sawant, and other senior officials. The Chief Minister observed that negligent conduct by even a few personnel can undermine the credibility of the entire police department, and stressed that police must instil fear of the law among criminals while fostering a sense of security among citizens.

With nine officers actioned in a single sitting, Tuesday's crackdown signals that the Sharma government intends to translate its zero-tolerance rhetoric into measurable accountability — a posture that will face its first real test during the festive season ahead.