Ludhiana, Sept. 11 -- Commissioner of police (CP) Swapan Sharma has barred the station house officers (SHOs) of all police stations within the Ludhiana commissionerate from directly dealing with cases related to land, monetary, and matrimonial disputes.

The verbal orders further state that such matters will now be dealt with by officers of the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) and above.

The CP's orders came during a meeting of the SHOs and other officers held on Monday.

According to the CP, the orders were issued so that these cases, which generally require a lengthy probe, could be timely addressed.

However, people privy to the development said that it has been done to deter corrupt practices and favouritism at the SHO ...