Meerut: A case of mistaken identity has exposed alleged police misconduct in Bulandshahr, where seven policemen, including the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sikandrabad police station, have been suspended for allegedly detaining a man and extorting Rs 6 lakh from his family. A head constable from Ghaziabad Police Lines, identified as Vineet Kumar, is currently absconding.
Incident Details
Mohd Salman, a resident of Sikandrabad, was allegedly picked up on April 30 from the Gulawathi toll plaza by policemen in plain clothes. He was taken to the police station, where he was illegally detained. According to the complaint, the policemen initially demanded Rs 20 lakh for his release, which was later negotiated down to Rs 6 lakh. The family paid the amount under duress.
Police Version
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “The team was acting on a tip-off about a history-sheeter named Salman involved in illegal arms trade, but detained the wrong person due to identical names and locality.” This explanation, however, does not justify the alleged extortion and illegal detention.
Investigation and Action
The matter came to light after the victim approached Meerut Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kalanidhi Naithani, who ordered an inquiry. CCTV footage from the toll plaza and police station allegedly confirmed the involvement of the accused personnel. The probe revealed that Vineet Kumar, a relative of SHO Neeraj Malik, had taken leave and was allegedly involved in the operation.
Following the inquiry conducted by Circle Officer (CO) Bhaskar Kumar Mishra, action was taken against SHO Neeraj Malik, Sub-Inspector (SSI) Arun Kumar, outpost in-charge Amit Kumar, head constable Vineet Kumar, and constables Pravesh Bansla, Sumit, and Vikul Kumar. All seven have been suspended pending further investigation.
Ongoing Investigation
Further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the misconduct and to locate the absconding head constable. The police department has assured strict action against those found guilty.
