Bus stripped bare in cop custody

HOWRAH: A minibus, kept in the 'safe custody' of Golabari police station in Howrah, was stripped of its parts for nearly a month. When the owner came to claim it back on Friday, little more than the shell remained. There was a bigger shock in store: some of the stolen parts, including the battery, were reportedly tucked away in the police station's malkhana (godown).
When the owner, Abul Bashar Khan, confronted the police officers, they allegedly threatened to "book him under a non-bailable charge" but later gave the excuse that they had taken away some parts to "prevent them from being stolen".They had no explanation for the rest of the missing machinery and accessories.
The Domjur-Howrah bus was seized on June 10 after it ran over a motorcyclist. The vehicle was parked outside inspector-in-charge Sanjib Dutta's room. Every time Khan tried to get it released, he was told investigating officer Subhash Ghosh was "too busy". When Khan finally met Ghosh on June 30, he was told to pay road tax under the new rules.
"On Saturday, I went with the tax invoice. The IO handed me a blank sheet, asking me to certify that I had received my vehicle in its original condition. I demanded to see my bus and was shocked to see the gearbox and other engine parts missing. The seat covers had been stripped. The music system was gone and even the rods had been ripped away," Khan claimed.
Khan says that when he tried to lodge a complaint, Ghosh retorted that he "should have hired someone to look after the vehicle". After Khan raised a hue and cry, some policemen rushed to the malkhana and pulled out a few parts to placate him.
"They promised to 'compensate' me but threatened to book me under a non-bailable charge if I went to the SP," Khan said. "I know that the parts were stolen by the policemen but I don't know how to react."
SP N K Singh sounded equally shocked. "I shall order a probe once Khan lodges a complaint with me," he said.