PATNA: An SHO and a police constable were put under suspension, while the contract of a village chowkidar was terminated on Friday for releasing six people detained for
violating prohibition law
, from the police station in Patna district late on Wednesday night.
The disciplinary action was initiated against Dhanarua police station SHO Suman Kumar, driver Yogendra Kumar and chowkidar Amitabh Bachchan by Patna SSP
Upendra Kumar Sharma
on the basis of a detailed investigation conducted by City SP East Jitendra Kumar.
Confirming the action, the SSP on Friday said, “Such lapses on part of any police officer in the district will not be tolerated. Police personnel found to be lax in implementing prohibition law at Dhanarua police station have already been suspended and departmental proceedings have been initiated against them. In addition, suitable action has also been taken against the chowkidar.”
According to reports, altogether six people were detained at the Dhanarua police station on Thursday night after being found in drunken state. One of them, stated to be nephew of an influential mukhiya of the area, was first released from the police station. Five others were also let off with the connivance of the cops manning the police station the same night.
Patna SSP Sharma swung into action and ordered an investigation soon after receiving complaint from some local residents that those detained at the Dhanarua police station for consuming liquor in violation of Bihar Excise and Prohibition Act 2016 were released from the police station after being obliged by their relatives.
City SP (East) Kumar along with Masaurhi SDPO Sonu Kumar immediately visited the police station and inquired about the allegations levelled against the police personnel. “All six people, who were released from police custody, were summoned at the Dhanarua police station. Breathalyzer test, however, confirmed that five of them had consumed alcohol,” the City SP (East) said.
He said one of them, who had not tested positive in the test, was, however, released after verification. During investigation, it was found that five of the
drunken people
were earlier released from police custody under pressure. “We didn’t find any evidence of illegal gratification as alleged by some people,” Kumar said.
As per the provisions of the new prohibition law, Suman Kumar, a sub-inspector of police, would be deprived of being posted as SHO of any police station in the state for next 10 years. “The SSP is not in a mood to let off any cop found to be lax in implementing prohibition law under his jurisdiction,” an SP rank officer told this newspaper on the condition of anonymity.
Earlier, DGP Gupteshwar Pandey had ordered the suspension of Gaurichak police station and transfer of all the police personnel posted there on the complaints of residents of Chipura village that the cops were hands in glove with liquor smugglers.