Raipur, Chhattisgarh government has suspended IAS officer KL Chauhan and IPS officer Sadanand Kumar, who were removed as collector and SP of Balodabazar-Bhatapara respectively in the wake of arson at the district headquarters this week, officials said on Friday. .
The General Administration and Home Department issued his suspension orders late on Thursday night.
According to the order, Chauhan and Kumar allegedly did not take appropriate action after the damage to 'Jaitkham' of the Satnami community in the district.
On the midnight of 15-16 May, unknown persons broke the sacred symbol 'Jaitkham' or 'Vijay Stambh', worshiped by the Satnami community, near the holy Amar Cave at Girodpuri Dham in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district.
Police later arrested three people in connection with the incident.The community had called for a demonstration at the Dussehra ground in Balodabazar on June 10 and 'gherao' the collector's office in protest against the alleged demolition of the religious structure.
During the protest, a mob set fire to a government office and more than 150 vehicles in Balodabazar city.
The next day (June 11), the state government transferred the then Balodabazar Collector KL Chauhan and the then Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadanand Kumar to the Secretariat and Police Headquarters without assigning them any department.
According to the suspension order of both the officers, disciplinary action was pending against them after complaints were received against the district administration and police for not taking appropriate action after the religious structure of Satnami community was damaged last month.
While Chauhan is a state cadre service officer who was awarded IAS in 2009, Kumar is a 2010 batch IPS officer. The order said that both have been suspended with immediate effect.
Police had on Tuesday said that seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the arson and they have formed 12 teams to trace those involved in the arson.Chhattisgarh Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel and Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma, in a joint press conference, had accused Congress leaders of instigating the crowd during the protest.
Minister Baghel had alleged, "Such a crime can never be committed by the Satnami community, which is known for giving the message of peace and brotherhood... This was the result of a well-planned conspiracy by the Congress."
The minister said that more than 200 people involved in the arson have been arrested.
Congress had termed the allegations against its party leaders as baseless and an attempt to hide the failure and inefficiency of the state government.
The influential Satnami community, founded by the medieval social reformer Baba Guru Ghasidas, represents the largest Scheduled Caste group in Chhattisgarh.
Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday appointed a one-member judicial commission headed by retired Chhattisgarh High Court judge CB Bajpai to probe the incident, officials said.He informed that the commission will submit its report to the state government within three months.
The General Administration and Home Department issued his suspension orders late on Thursday night.
According to the order, Chauhan and Kumar allegedly did not take appropriate action after the damage to 'Jaitkham' of the Satnami community in the district.
On the midnight of 15-16 May, unknown persons broke the sacred symbol 'Jaitkham' or 'Vijay Stambh', worshiped by the Satnami community, near the holy Amar Cave at Girodpuri Dham in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district.
Police later arrested three people in connection with the incident.The community had called for a demonstration at the Dussehra ground in Balodabazar on June 10 and 'gherao' the collector's office in protest against the alleged demolition of the religious structure.
During the protest, a mob set fire to a government office and more than 150 vehicles in Balodabazar city.
The next day (June 11), the state government transferred the then Balodabazar Collector KL Chauhan and the then Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadanand Kumar to the Secretariat and Police Headquarters without assigning them any department.
According to the suspension order of both the officers, disciplinary action was pending against them after complaints were received against the district administration and police for not taking appropriate action after the religious structure of Satnami community was damaged last month.
While Chauhan is a state cadre service officer who was awarded IAS in 2009, Kumar is a 2010 batch IPS officer. The order said that both have been suspended with immediate effect.
Police had on Tuesday said that seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the arson and they have formed 12 teams to trace those involved in the arson.Chhattisgarh Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel and Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma, in a joint press conference, had accused Congress leaders of instigating the crowd during the protest.
Minister Baghel had alleged, "Such a crime can never be committed by the Satnami community, which is known for giving the message of peace and brotherhood... This was the result of a well-planned conspiracy by the Congress."
The minister said that more than 200 people involved in the arson have been arrested.
Congress had termed the allegations against its party leaders as baseless and an attempt to hide the failure and inefficiency of the state government.
The influential Satnami community, founded by the medieval social reformer Baba Guru Ghasidas, represents the largest Scheduled Caste group in Chhattisgarh.
Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday appointed a one-member judicial commission headed by retired Chhattisgarh High Court judge CB Bajpai to probe the incident, officials said.He informed that the commission will submit its report to the state government within three months.
