DCPs told to oust staff with dubious conduct from DSTs

Jaipur: Police commissioner Biju George Joseph Monday directed all deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) to immediately remove personnel with questionable conduct from their District Special Teams (DSTs), tasked with criminal intelligence gathering, tracking organised gangs, and curbing flow of illegal arms and narcotics.

The move follows an FIR registered against five DST personnel accused of extorting Rs 25 lakh from two bookies during a raid on a betting racket in the Shivdaspura area Saturday. Three constables were suspended, while an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a head constable were shifted to police lines following the incident.

Speaking to TOI, Joseph said, "We have asked all DCPs to remove cops with questionable conduct from the DSTs and ordered a complete overhaul of these units."

The DSTs, comprising off-beat personnel, play a key role in city policing. However, recent allegations of misconduct have raised serious concerns about accountability and oversight within these elite squads. A senior police official said DST personnel against whom allegations are made will be shunted out, and fresh deployment will be ordered soon.

Established in 2019, DSTs were formed to control organised crimes with an 11-point instruction, which included the collection of organised crime data from all police stations, hunting of fugitives, and acting on special information. The DST's mandate included sharing information with SOG units about gangs operating in their areas, preparing dossiers on criminals, and helping the modus operandi bureau to keep a tab on criminals.

"The aim was that these new units would also help their local police during trials and legal processes, maintain vigilance over accused lodged in jails, and monitor their activities inside the prison," said an official.