Cops suspended for extorting money from cattle truckers
Extortion from drivers on the national highway has become rampant
We conducted surprise inspection and suspended the cops with immediate effect. We will not tolerate extortion, indiscipline and dereliction of duty. This is a warning to other cops indulging in the practice MR CHOTHE, Dhanbad senior superintendent of police
DHANBAD: For a while now, policemen in parts of Jharkhand have been chasing cattle-laden trucks and imposing fine on the drivers. Now, a central government move could press breaks on the extortion trend.
The Union home ministry, in a bid to tame cow protectors and their violent ways, issued an advisory to state governments on Tuesday calling for prompt action against offenders.
Within hours, 16 policemen were suspended for allegedly taking money from the drivers — in two separate instances — after chasing cattle-laden trucks.
Eight of them were suspended in Dhanbad on Wednesday. The action was taken on the basis of probe reports, Dhanbad senior superintendent of police MR Chothe said. “We conducted surprise inspection and suspended the cops with immediate effect,” he told HT.
“We will not tolerate extortion, indiscipline and dereliction of duty,” Chothe added. “This is a warning to other cops indulging in the practice.”
Eight more personnel were suspended for similar offence in the Maoist-affected Tundi belt of this district.
According to sources, police patrols of Gobindpur and Barwadda stations chased cowladen trucks on Sunday night. In the process, the constables entered the limits of adjacent Nirsa police station—and stopped the truck. The driver reportedly produced documents, but was pressured to pay bribe.
At this, Nirsa police inspector Shamim Ahamed lodged a complaint with the Dhanbad SSP. “It was unwarranted intrusion,” said Ahamed, who submitted a report to Chothe.
Police extorting money from truck drivers on the national highway has become rampant.
Recently, a DSP rank official and an inspector were suspended after they attempted to implicate a truck driver for smuggling cattle. A police officer investigating the case allegedly committed suicide at police station premises two months ago.
The matter relates to a June 14 incident, where, in the wee hours, police caught a cattleladen truck on GT Road and demanded money. When the driver, Mohammed Nazim who also owned the vehicle, refused to yield, Hariharpur police station officer in-charge Santosh Rajak allegedly shot at him. DSP Mazrul Hoda was also present at the spot.
Umesh Kachhap, a police officer deployed at Topchanchi police station, was appointed as the investigation officer of the case. Kachhap later reportedly came under pressure from senior police officials and politicians. On June 18, he was found dead at the police station premises.