A delegation of IPS officers called on Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya and Chief Secretary L N S Mukundan on Monday to convey its unhappiness. The delegation also called on Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel late in the evening and sought revocation of the suspension orders.

In their memorandum to Pandya and the Chief Minister, the IPS officers said that the suspended officers had ordered firing when they found that the situation threatened to go out of control. The memorandum pointed out that both officers had an excellent track record and Vipul Vijoy was even selected for the President's Police Medal on Republic Day.

Later, Chairman of the IPS Officers' Association A K Chakravarti said the government was sympathetic totheir demand. ``We are waiting for a communique from the government,'' he said.

The memorandum stated that since the government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident, it should have waited for the report. Besides, the two officers were not given a chance to explain their conduct, it was pointed out.

About Vijoy, an IPS officer said the government had, in one stroke, spoilt the career of an officer who had an excellent service record of 16 years. He alleged that the government had bowed to political pressures from within the party and other BJP outfits.

Another officer said that the suspensions, if not revoked, would demoralise officers. ``No officer would ever take an initiative in a difficult situation,'' he said, and complained that ruling politicians were increasingly targeting police officer to safeguard their own vested interests.

The officer claimed that BJP MLA Yatin Oza was targeting two IPS officers, Satish Verma and Atul Karwal, just because he was an accused in the case ofkilling of a police officer by a mob. Similarly, Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana was targeting Surat Commissioner Kuldip Sharma to regain his popularity.

Award will have to wait

AHMEDABAD: Additional Commissioner of Police Vipul Vijoy, who was to receive the Presidential award for meritorious services from the Governor Sundersingh Bhandari at a function in Gandhinagar on Tuesday would now have to wait till he is cleared of charges following his suspension.

According to soruces in the police, any officer who is awarded a medal but is under suspension cannot receive the same till clared at the end of the inquiry. Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya admitted Vijoy would not be getting the award till he was reinstated in service.