THREE POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDING THE SHO OF AGIAW BAZAAR PS SUSPENDED, NEW SHO APPOINTED

22-JUNE-ENG 8

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Agiaon Bazar police station of Bhojpur district is in the headlines these days due to a viral audio scandal. Taking immediate action in this matter, Bhojpur SP Raj has suspended three police officers including SHO. This action has been taken on the basis of serious allegations surfaced in the viral audio, in which illegal recovery and distribution of money by some personnel of the police station have come to the fore.

Among the officers suspended, Agiaon Bazar police station SHO Priyanka Gupta, SI Chandra Prakash Pandit and ASI RP Singh are included. According to sources, the names of SI and ASI have clearly come out in the viral audio and they have been accused of illegal recovery and distribution of money from sand and liquor smugglers. In the audio, these officers have been directly accused by the private driver of the police station.

The viral audio clip records a conversation between a private driver and a police station officer, in which there is a discussion on the transaction of money and how it is being distributed. It also says that some officers are collecting more than the amount fixed at their level and it is not being distributed equally among the staff. The audio also reveals the recovery from sand and liquor smugglers.

Taking this matter seriously, SP Raj has appointed a new SHO in Agiaon Bazar police station with immediate effect. 2018 batch sub-inspector Archana Kumari has been given the command of Agiaon Bazar police station. She was currently working as JSI in Sandesh police station of Bhojpur. The SP expressed hope that the image of the police station will improve under the leadership of the new SHO and the confidence of the public will be restored.

SP Raj said that the entire matter is being investigated by an ASP level officer. He also clarified that after the investigation report, if the involvement of any other officer comes to the fore, then strict action will be taken against him as well. The SP said bluntly that no officer involved in corruption, illegal recovery and damaging the image of the police will be spared.

This entire incident has once again raised questions on the functioning of the police department. The message has gone to the general public that if there is an atmosphere of recovery and corruption at the police station level itself, then how will the problems of the common citizens be solved? However, the quick action of the SP has definitely shown that the administration is being very vigilant in such cases.

This entire incident has not only caused resentment among the local people but also a ray of hope that now the administration will not turn a blind eye in such cases. The villagers say that police stations should be the temple of justice, not the center of recovery. They hope that now transparency and accountability will increase at the police station level.