Guwahati, 12th December: In a development in Cachar district of Assam, five Assam Police personnel have been suspended over their alleged involvement with areca nut smugglers. Cachar SP Numal Mahatta took action, suspending five constables accused of allowing the passage of smuggled areca nuts through the district.
These policemen, stationed at the Digorkhal check-post and part of the Gumrah Police Investigation Centre along the Assam-Meghalaya inter-state border, facilitated the movement of a truck carrying areca nuts through the Shibnagar toll gate, according to a district police officer.
The truck, owned by two alleged smugglers, was permitted to cross the gate. However, the Officer-in-Charge of Gumrah Police Station pursued and intercepted the vehicle near the Meghalaya border. Subsequent to the interception, the driver was arrested, leading the police to apprehend the smugglers on Saturday night. One of them sustained injuries in police firing during an attempt to escape custody.
Further investigation revealed that the truck had passed with the assistance of the implicated police personnel. The five constables were arrested on Saturday night and taken to Silchar Police Station, where they were subsequently suspended on Sunday. Notably, police seized Rs 1.48 lakh from the implicated policemen, believed to be a bribe.
Addressing the media, Additional SP Subrata Sen explained that one police constable sustained serious injuries during the confrontation with the smugglers and is currently undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and Hospital.
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