Bareilly Police Personnel Suspended for Impersonating Drug Officials and Extortion
In a significant development in Bareilly, five police personnel, including the in-charge of the Moradabad surveillance cell and four constables, have been suspended following serious allegations of impersonation, illegal detention, and extortion. The action was taken after a medical store owner filed a detailed complaint accusing the officers of posing as drug department officials to carry out an unauthorized raid and demand money for his release.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The complainant, Uvaid Qureshi, reported that the incident occurred approximately one month ago at his medical store located in the Phailkhana Reti Street area. According to Qureshi, a team from the surveillance cell conducted a raid on his shop while falsely presenting themselves as officials from the drug department. They accused him of stocking and selling banned medicines, which led to his immediate detention.
Qureshi provided a harrowing account of the events: He claimed that during the raid, the personnel took him into custody and confined him at a private property. Furthermore, he alleged that the officers deliberately damaged CCTV cameras installed at the shop and forcibly removed the DVR containing crucial surveillance footage. In his formal complaint, Qureshi stated that the team initially demanded Rs 1 lakh for his release but later negotiated down to Rs 40,000, which he was compelled to pay.
Investigation and Suspension
Following the submission of the complaint to SSP Moradabad Satpal Antil, the circle officer of Katghar was directed to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. Officials confirmed that Qureshi provided CCTV footage which corroborated the presence of the surveillance team at the store and verified that he had indeed been detained. After reviewing the inquiry report, SSP Antil took decisive action on Tuesday, suspending surveillance cell in-charge Veer Bose along with constables Shivam Chikara, Vipin Sharma, Yash Dahiya, and Manoj Yadav.
SSP Satpal Antil emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating: "The complaint was investigated thoroughly and action was taken based on the findings of the inquiry. The personnel were neither authorised to conduct such a raid nor did they inform senior officials. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against them."
Broader Implications and Ongoing Proceedings
This case highlights critical issues of police misconduct and accountability in the region. The suspension of the five personnel underscores the commitment of senior officials to address such violations promptly. The departmental proceedings initiated against the suspended officers indicate that further disciplinary actions may follow, potentially including legal consequences.
Key points from the investigation include:
- The raid was conducted without proper authorization from higher authorities.
- The impersonation of drug department officials constitutes a serious breach of protocol.
- The extortion of money from a civilian raises concerns about corruption within the force.
- The destruction of CCTV evidence points to an attempt to cover up the illicit activities.
As the inquiry progresses, authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely to ensure justice is served and to prevent similar incidents in the future. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and integrity in law enforcement operations.
