LAHORE, Dec 27: Feeling deeply hurt by alleged invectives of the Okara district police officer, an SHO who enjoys the reputation of an honest and efficient officer has reportedly stopped working and refused to resume duty.

The SHO’s strong reaction has sent a chill down the spine of police higher-ups in Lahore, who are mindful of the negative impact of such an attitude of the supervisory officers.

DPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana, however, denied that he had abused the SHO and said the official is still working.

Sources told Dawn that Okara’s Satgrah police station SHO Alamgir, a sub-inspector, had reportedly telephoned the DPO on Friday night to inform him about commission of some offence. But, sources alleged, he had to face the wrath of the DPO.

Taken aback, the SI requested the district police head to be polite and courteous but the senior officer was in no mood to spare him, which made the SI disconnect the call. This enraged the DPO who suspended the SI from service and ordered the police to get hold of him. He was later calmed down by another police officer, sources said, but the SI refused to talk to him on the wireless.

The DPO reportedly reinstated the SHO in the morning but, sources claimed, he (SHO) was reluctant to resume duty.

While denying the episode, DPO Kamyana asked this reporter as to who had told him about any such happening. The event led to discussions among some senior police officers who are still perturbed by the recent suicide of an SI in Lahore, who was allegedly reprimanded by a superior.

They also reminded this reporter of the murder of the Bahawalpur Range DIG some 11 years ago by his gunman and driver whom he allegedly used to abuse in public. Senior policemen admitted that under the Police Order punitive action could be taken against junior officials only for committing crime or showing misconduct. Even cases had been registered against junior officials, he added.

But, they said, the junior officials could not seek any remedy against the unbecoming attitude of their superiors. Protest meant suspension and charges of subordination or misconduct.

“Normally, the juniors suffer in silence. But there are also incidents like suicide or the Bahawalpur tragedy,” said the policemen who stressed the need for developing a legal mechanism to protect the underdog.