(The Statesman via NewsEdge) The officer-in-charge of India's Chatterjeehaat police investigation center in Howrah, Ashok Basu, was suspended last night by the district superintendent of police on charges of negligence and dereliction of duty.
The suspension comes 10 days after a gang of cable thieves stole underground BSNL cables in Chatterjeehaat in presence of policemen who allegedly gave protection to the thieves. Claiming themselves as BSNL employees, seven men had come to the Chatterjeehaat investigation center and produced a letter bearing fake BSNL stamp. They claimed that the BSNL authorities have pressed them to repair underground cable network in Janbari zone.
The police allowed them to dig up roads on October 8 to undertake the repairs work without verifying the authenticity of the letter. The thieves then dug out cable in presence of police and fled the area after giving thanks to the men in uniform for giving them security cover, said a senior police officer.
After going through every details, the district police superintendent suspended the officer-in-charge of the investigation center. Basu was suspended on the charge of negligence and dereliction of duty. A formal complaint in connection with the theft was lodged with the Shibpur police station, said Niraj Kumar Singh, superintendent of police.
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