Police personnel accepting bribes to ‘Look away’
Morung Express News
August 9
DIMAPUR: Police personnel manning the Bhandari check post, a sub-division in Wokha district were reported to be indulging in extortion and bribery practices for the last few years.
This revelation came to light when the Sanis Youth on August 5 apprehended two persons namely Samuel Humtsoe and Zubenthung Ezung and recovered about 19 cases of beer, 140 boxes of banned Relipen, 1 case of nitro and a bottle of Gin from their possession.
The two persons on being interrogated by the Sanis Youth confessed before Council leaders and the Public of the town that they were able to pass the Bhandari Police check post by bribing the personnel with Rs 500 as ‘cha-ha khabole’ for every ‘consignment’ on their trips. It is learnt that the two drug dealers have been in the business for quite some time, now conveniently assisted by corrupt Police personnel.
The peddlers were traveling in a Jeep (NLO5-2653) with the banned consignment, procured from Assam when they were apprehended by the Sanis youth at Zero Point. Interestingly, the youths at the time of apprehending the duo were actually searching for four unidentified men who were reportedly armed with guns and Machetes (Daos). These four miscreants had reportedly served an extortion notice of Rs. 38, 000 on a shopkeeper identified as Chiten Sharma who ran a grocery shop in Sanis. According to earlier information, the four men had kidnapped two of Chiten Sharma’s salesmen who were later released the same day. The youths in reprisal had then launched an extensive search for the four men. Sources disclosed that the four extortionists had earlier demanded Rs. 1 Lakh on July 30. This was later reduced to Rs. 5O, OOO on negotiation and the grocer had already paid about Rs. 12, OOO. The remaining amount was demanded by the extortionists to be paid on or before August 8.
The Chairman of the Sanis Town Council and the GB has condemned the act and questioned whether the Police were performing their duties for the sake of money or for the good of the society. The elders demanded immediate action against the ‘corrupt’ personnels and cautioned that unless an example was made out of the erring policemen, smuggling and other illegal activities would continue.
It is worthwhile to mention that Bhandari town borders Merapani, a commercial settlement serving as a border outpost between Nagaland and Assam. Merapani had been in news for the last few years for being a convenient conduit for illegal drug smugglers and contraband dealers to channel their business into Nagaland. Bhandari Police check post, due to its strategic location, is one of the most crucial stoppage-points leading into Nagaland from Assam.
