Thiruvananthapuram: Continuous reports of corruption and serious lapses in the Kerala Police is putting the force to shame. Today another issue has popped up concerning flouting tender conditions to purchase expensive cameras for the elite police force, Thunder Bolts.
According to the allegation, during 2013-14 period, tender was called for purchasing night vision enabled remote cameras. However, the tender conditions were disregarded and two cameras worth Rs. 94,52,789 were purchased.
Three companies had participated in the tender but only one company took part during the technical probe. The company that took part is the company that had finally won the tender. However, according to tender stipulations, if only one company participates then it states that a re-tender must be conducted.
Before every investigations and checking were concluded the committee for technical investigations had approved the purchase of these cameras. Moreover, the entire amount of money was paid up before the cameras were acquired.
It must be noted that the present DGP, Lokanath Behera, was the then ADGP for modernization when the purchase was made. The money was transferred before acquiring it by falsely claiming that the cameras were delivered to the police. Reports say that a senior clerk at the Police Headquarters was behind this wrong report.
In the initial phase itself the then SPs of Wayanad and Malappuram and the Anti Terrorist Squad had complained that they hadn’t received any training on how to use these cameras. Reports say that the decision to investigate the whole matter was overturned by top officials latter.
