Bareilly: Four constables from Baradari police station in Bareilly were suspended on Monday for allegedly illegally detaining a resident for two days, extorting Rs 50,000 from him and threatening to falsely implicate him in a fraud case.
The action follows a complaint lodged last week by Somveer Kashyap who alleged that on May 14, constables Aditya, Rahul, Durgesh and another unnamed policeman picked him up from a roadside dhaba where he had gone to recover money from property dealer Prem Babu Yadav. He said that two days earlier, Yadav and his associates Ravi Patel, Yogendra Patel and Annu had snatched a bag containing Rs 10 lakh from him on the pretext of a property agreement. He alleged that the policemen, on Yadav’s behest, held him for two days in a private quarter and released him only after he paid them Rs 50,000. The policemen also allegedly threatened him with a fake encounter.
Police Response and Action
SSP Arya said, “An inquiry revealed that the four constables had detained the complainant in their private quarter instead of taking him to the police station. This constitutes illegal detention and they have been suspended accordingly.” He added that allegations of Rs 10 lakh fraud have not been verified so far and an investigation is ongoing.
The suspended constables have been identified as Aditya, Rahul, Durgesh, and a fourth officer whose name has not been disclosed. The departmental inquiry will proceed to determine further disciplinary action. The complainant, Somveer Kashyap, has been assured of a fair investigation into his allegations regarding the Rs 10 lakh theft.
Broader Implications
This incident highlights concerns about police misconduct and illegal detention practices in the region. The suspension of the four constables is seen as a step toward accountability, but it also raises questions about the oversight of police personnel. Local residents have expressed mixed reactions, with some praising the swift action by SSP Arya, while others call for a more thorough probe into the alleged links between the accused property dealer and the police.
