SHILLONG, OCT 1: A day after the KSU exposed alleged illegal collection of Rs 200 to Rs 500 from trucks at Mawkhanu and Thangshalai, East Khasi Hills police has admitted that the checking was not appropriate and ordered a probe.
SP Vivek Syiem said preliminary inquiry by SP City Dangsan Khyriem has identified the constables who were deployed for night patrolling in the area.
Their deployment was based on a request from the truckers’ association following frequent dacoity cases.
“Their duty was from evening till night to ensure safety of trucks. But it may have been, by the look of things, that there was no proper checking and there was also chance that these people may have collected money illegally,” Syiem said on Thursday.
Referring to viral videos where truck drivers were seen giving money inside a shed, Syiem said police checking in Shillong is “very open and transparent” with armed personnel, proper gear and nakas.
“In those videos, checking was not appropriate. There is some level of suspicion, for which I am going to conduct an inquiry,” he said.
The SP said the constables will be suspended to ensure a transparent and objective inquiry.
“People who are involved, since inquiry will be conducted to ensure transparency and objectivity that the inquiry will be conducted properly, those constables will be suspended,” he said.
He further said the district transfer committee will on Thursday evening decide whether the OC of the area needs to be transferred.
Stating zero tolerance to illegal collection, Syiem urged truckers not to pay money to policemen on the road.
“If there is any illegal collection or demand of money from police or non-state actors, please call police control room number, emergency number 112, or submit a complaint at SP office if response is not satisfactory,” he said.
By Our Reporter
