GUWAHATI, July 18 - At the intervention of the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC), departmental proceedings have been initiated against a sub inspector of the Assam Police for neglecting his duty in a kidnapping case in Diphu town.
In compliance with a recommendation from the rights panel in case no 1588/8/15-16, the Superintendent of Police of Biswanath district has drawn up departmental proceedings against SI (Unarmed Branch) Raju Dowarah.
The AHRC had received a complaint in this regard from Kulsuma Begum, wife of one Abdul Kalam under Murajhar Police Station in Hojai district alleging that there was utter negligence on the part of the police personnel of Diphu Police Station, where SI Dowarah was posted at that time.
She had filed an FIR that her husband went missing on November 22, 2015 while on his way to Diphu Railway Station from his rented house in Diphu town. Abdul Kalam was a vegetable vendor. Kulsuma Begum had received a demand of Rs 10 lakh over telephone for the release of her husband.
The panel, comprising its Chairperson Justice T Vaiphei and members NK Bora and DK Saikia took cognizance of the matter. Accordingly, an investigation was conducted by Jayanta Choudhury, SP Investigation Cell, AHRC, during which it was found that there was gross negligence on the part of SI Raju Dowarah and SI Bichitra Hajong of Diphu PS.
During investigation it was found that SI Raju Dowarah could ascertain from his probe that the mobile phone of Abdul Kalam was being used by one Babul Ali after his kidnapping. But there was no effort on the part of the police to trace out Babul Ali.
Meanwhile, the SP of Biswanath district has communicated to the AHRC that departmental proceedings have been initiated against the SI, whose explanation against the showcause notice was not found satisfactory.
The AHRC observed that had the police taken action on time to trace Babul Ali, it could have been a big clue to trace the victim as well as to arrest the main culprit as he was using the mobile phone of the victim.
