PANAJI
Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh, IPS, on Sunday backed his centralised information system via a single Public Relation Officer (PRO) saying it has been introduced on media demand and to avoid multiple versions of the same crime incident.
“PRO was appointed on media demand for single point contact and to avoid different versions of the same crime," Singh said while reacting to criticism of his decision and orders to police officers of all ranks to refrain from communicating with the press and media, except through the PRO.
He said, the decision is in public interest as people have the right to know "facts and not multiple versions."
The DGP also indicated that he was open to discontinue the new system introduced if the media is averse to the PRO system of getting information and wants the 'poach versions'.
Earlier, the Opposition Congress accused the government of attempting to "stonewall" the media and demanded that the order debarring senior police officers from interacting with the media on crimes be withdrawn.
Congress' media cell in-charge, Amarnath Panjikar said it was an attempt to hide crime.
"Government first tried to supress the voice of the public and now it is trying to stifle the media," Panjikar said, adding that it proves the BJP government cannot face the media and was hence attempting to obstruct them.
