North Cyprus authorities dismiss 53 police officers

About 53 police officers including senior officers in the Turkish republic of North Cyprus has been dismissed on the order of the TRNC Attorney General for allegedly having connections to FETO, the terrorist organisation linked to self exiled Turkish Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen.

According to Turkish Cyprus daily, Kibris, the Attorney General sent a letter to Police chief, Seleyman Manavoglu demanding the immediate dismissal of the police officers, an order which is yet to be followed through by the police chief.

The report says, following investigations, there were allegations that evidence was found that the police officers are users of ByLock, an encrypted messaging application used almost exclusively by Gulen supporters. 

Other evidence also found that the police officers were holding meetings with other members of the FETO organisation when they visited the TRNC.