No. P3NFPE – Odisha / 06 –
11 / 2017
Dated at
Bhubaneswar the 13th November, 2017
To
Dr. S K Kamila, IPoS
Chief Postmaster General
Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751 001
Sub:- Provision of Police Escort in Cash Van &
Deployment of Arm Guards inside/in the campus of Post Offices
Respected Sir,
Illustrating
today’s (13.11.2017) unfortunate incident in Berhampur HO where one lootera
tried to rob Rs.160000/- from the S B Counter of the HO and subsequently caught
by our staff members with the help of the members of public and handed over to
the police, this is our compulsion to bring it to your kind notice that keeping
in view the recent ongoing robberies in broad-day light from banks and other cash counters in cities
on one hand and considering the amount of
per day cash transactions by our
post offices, we had given a proposal to the administration for deployment of
arm guards inside / in the campus of Bhubaneswar GPO way back in 2006. Due to
our continuous pursuance, the matter
was discussed at Circle level with the DPS (HQ) by the Circle Union on
16.11.2006 and as replied by the DPS (HQ), the matter would be referred to the
Directorate since related to all India and not only the case of Bhubaneswar GPO. But since then, we are in dark on the
progress of this issue.
Many
Post Offices have witnessed such incidents severally in the recent past.
Similarly,
we were also discussing the issue of deployment of police escort in the cash
vans which was lastly closed with reply that Divisional Superintendents have
been ordered to deploy private escorts as per rules wherever necessary. But
practically, this is not being carried out and our poor Postal Assistants
including the cash overseers and part-time casual drivers are thrown /
compelled to bear high risk for regular collection / conveyance beyond the
prescribed limits.
Reiterating
the facts, we have our submission before you that both the above items were taken up at
Directorate level by AIPEU, Group-C, CHQ
on 11.03.2014 and Directorate vide its letter F No. 18 - 1/-2012 – PO, dated 20.03.2014 has
directed the Chief PMG, Odisha Circle to follow the instructions of Postal
Directorate issued on security of cash at Post Offices and conveyance of cash
from Post Office earlier issued vide Directorate’s letter No. 24-4/2003-PC,
dated 10.10.2007 and No.32 - 1/86-CE,, dated 09.01.1986 authorizing the Circle
Head with full Administrative and Financial Powers in this regard.
It
is needless to say that while the ATMs carrying too less cash have been
attached with armed guards, the Post Offices / Cash Vans collecting / preserving
and conveying heavy cash are ignored. We are sorry to say Sir, now a day, while
the main culprit is easily escaped in case of any mishap; the poor subsidiary
offenders are heavily punished.
Anything
would have happened today in Berhampur HO. Had the culprit not been caught, the
poor counter P A would have been compelled to make good the cash or taken into
task on several pleas as per our Postal Manuals.
A
video of this unfortunate incident has been made viral now in the social media
which is a talk of the state today. The culprit has entered inside the office
daringly and taken away the bundles of notes from the backside of the counter P
A who is working sincerely looking at the desk top and / public. Thank God,
another P A could be able to notice and shout. This has happened only due to
lack of proper security arrangement in the Head Office itself.
Therefore,
in this context, we would like to request you once again to kindly take the
issue very seriously and arrange for deployment of armed guards in the campus
and inside each GPO, HO, and MDGs, preferably in the first phase and to provide
police escorts in cash vans as guided vide Directorate’s letter No. 24 – 4 / 2003
- PC, dated 10.10.2007 and No.32 – 1 / 86 - CE, dated 09.01.1986 to save the
Govt. cash / valuables and the life of the staff members.
Expecting your kind response, Sir.
With regards.
Yours faithfully,
(B SAMAL)
Circle Secretary
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