Refused bribe, police volunteers beat man to death

WITNESSES SAY THE VOLUNTEERS STOPPED THE RIDER FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET AND BEAT HIM UP WHEN HE REFUSED TO PAY A BRIBE

KOLKATA: Bikers often die in accidents if they don’t wear helmets but Soumen Debnath, 49, was allegedly punched and kicked to death in the North 24 Parganas district on Saturday because he did not bribe the civic police volunteers who caught him without the mandatory headgear.

The incident took place at around 11am and rocked the crowded Madhyamgram area, located about 25 km to the north of Kolkata. People blocked Jessore Road for several hours demanding action against regular traffic police personnel as well as civic volunteers who receive a fixed monthly honorarium from the government. Asking for bribe from bikers and goods vehicle drivers was a routine affair, they alleged.

In the afternoon, the district police arrested Soumen Roy, a civic police volunteer, and charged him with murder. “We are examining footages caught on security cameras. If others are involved they will be booked too,” said Abhijit Banerjee, additional superintendent of police.

Debnath, eyewitnesses told the police, was stopped by some civic police volunteers at a busy intersection for not wearing helmet. The volunteers allegedly asked for bribe and kicked and punched Debnath when he refused to pay. On seeing local people rushing to Debnath’s rescue, the volunteers fled. The injured man was taken to a local hospital where he died.

Deb na th, who used to work for a private company, was the sole bread earner in his family. He is survived by his parents, wife and two daughters. While his younger daughter is a student of Class 8, the elder is pursuing a master’s degree in science.