In a strong move addressing public safety failures, Jamtara Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajkumar Mehta suspended six police personnel on Sunday evening. The action comes amidst intense criticism from local traders following two consecutive jewellery store lootings last week where no arrests have been made.
Senior Officers Among the Suspended
The suspended officials include the officers in charge of two key police stations. Inspector Santosh Kumar, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jamtara Town police station, and Sub-Inspector Ajay Kumar, the OC of Mihijam police station, have been removed from duty. They were held responsible for the lapses in their respective jurisdictions where the crimes occurred.
Additionally, four constables faced suspension for their role in the negligence. Constables Parmeshwar Mandal and Manbodh Kumar Singh were suspended alongside Nishant Chakraborty and Pradeep Das from the tiger mobile team, a unit specifically tasked with night patrolling in the area.
A String of Crimes Prompted Strict Action
The suspensions are a direct response to two brazen robberies that shook the district's business community. On December 24, four masked men targeted Balaji Jewellers in Jamtara, making off with jewellery worth several lakhs of rupees. In a violent turn, they also shot at the store owner, Aman Verma, while escaping.
In a shockingly similar incident the very next day, December 25, another jewellery store was looted in the Mihijam area. The police's inability to prevent the second crime or make any arrests in either case led to widespread anger among local traders and residents, putting immense pressure on the administration.
SP's Firm Stance on Accountability
Explaining the decisive step, SP Rajkumar Mehta emphasized that crime control is the fundamental duty of the police force. He stated that negligence at any level would not be tolerated, especially when repeated incidents in specific police station areas raise serious questions about efficiency and vigilance.
"Crime control is the primary responsibility of the police, and negligence at any level will not be tolerated," Mehta said. "Repeated incidents in the police station areas raised serious questions about the police efficiency. Therefore, strict action against the officers responsible was necessary to ensure discipline and accountability."
He specifically highlighted the failure in patrolling duties, noting, "Negligence in patrolling directly impacts public safety and will be dealt with firmly." The suspension of the two tiger mobile constables underscores this point, indicating that the failure to secure the areas at night contributed significantly to the disciplinary action.
The move is seen as an attempt to restore public trust and send a clear message about accountability within the force. The investigations into both jewellery store loot cases continue, with the police now under increased scrutiny to deliver results.
