Extortion: CID grilling DSP among 7 cops in Assam

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The CID is grilling seven personnel, including a DSP, of the Bajali Police on the charge of extorting cash from supari traders. The seven are Bajali DSP (HQ) Puskal Gogoi, OC of Patacharkuchi PS SI Anup Jyoti Patiri, in-charge of Bhawanipur outpost SI (P) Debajit Giri, ASI Sasangka Das, ABC Injamamul Hassan (PSO of Gayatri Sonowal, the then Bajali ASP HQ), home guard Deepjoy Roy (driver to Bajalai SP), and home guard Nabir Ahmed (part-time driver of Bajali SP).

According to police sources, on the night of August 16, Bajali searched the house of supari trader Rabiul Islam of Koyakuchi, beat him and other members of his family, took him to the police station, and kept him there for two days without registering any case. The police let him go on August 18 with a demand of Rs 5 crore.

The Assam Police Headquarters received a complaint to this effect and entrusted the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to trap the police personnel involved. The directorate, however, could not succeed.

Based on prima facie evidence, the police registered a case (14/2023 u/s 120-B/341/342/323/448/294/379/387/427/506/307 IPC) with the CID on August 31. The CID brought all seven to its Ulubari office in Guwahati this morning.

Meanwhile, the government attached Bajali SP Siddhartha Buragohain to the Assam Police Headquarters after the incident later in the day. The government transferred and posted DCP (security) Ajagwaran Basumatary as Bajali SP.

Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Reports of economic offence on the part of Bajali police came to our attention. The police registered a case to this effect with the CID. Based on the CID case, they may be arrested. The police have to mend their ways. Gone are the days of browbeating by the police. Be him a top officer. The DGP has already made it known to all policemen. All officers up to the SP level should know what the DGP means to say. If such allegations of harassment against the poor are proven, we will act against them all. We have given the DGP complete authority.”

Also Read:   Assam: Police Detain Three Alleged Miscreants Involved in Extortion Attempt

Also Watch: