Crime Branch summons 10 police officials for questioning
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Crime Branch of the Guwahati police has arrested one Bidyut Sinha, a resident of Krishna Nagar in Gotanagar here, on charges of being the kingpin behind recent attempts to revive the illegal smuggling of supari (dried areca nut) from Myanmar.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Harmeet Singh told the media here that Bidyut Sinha's arrest has come after the Crime Branch registered a case (No. 01/22 U/S 120(B)/ 379/411/465/ 468/ 471 IPC) on January 25 in accordance with a directive given by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to thwart attempts to resume the illegal supari syndicate in Assam, along with other crimes.
Singh said that the smuggled Myanmarese supari is brought via the Mizoram-Barak Valley route (Vairangte-Lailapur route) and then dispatched to Meghalaya and others parts of the country. Preliminary interrogation of Sinha has revealed the involvement of some persons who are based outside Assam.
He also disclosed that some 'junior-level' police personnel may be involved in the facilitating the smuggling network and, consequently, 10 police officials posted in the Barak Valley have been summoned for ascertaining which police officials may be complicit in the racket. The summoned police officials include the officers in-charge (OCs) and in-charge (ICs) of Dholai Police Station, Rangikhari OP, Ghongoor OP, National Highway PP, Tarapur TOP, Arunachal OP, Bhangapar OP, Bihara OP, Gumrah PIC and Palonghat OP.
Singh said that "strict legal action of every kind, both departmental and penal" will be taken against any police official who is found to be involved in the illegal supari trade.
"As per the Chief Minister's resolve, we will not allow these kinds of illegal activities in Assam," the Guwahati Commissioner of Police said.
Singh said the Crime Branch will also "go after" the residents of other States who are involved in the racket. Bidyut Sinha has already taken the names of two of his partners in crime, the Police Commissioner added.
Asked about the reported involvement of some Transport Department officials in such illegal syndicates, Singh averred that whosoever is involved "will have to pay the price" once evidence is found.
Singh said that this illegal trade has not only inter-State crime imperatives, but international ones as well. He said that the focus on the Barak Valley is only a beginning point for the investigation, which will take time.
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