Incident Captured on Viral Video Leads to Departmental Inquiry
In Malda district of West Bengal, three civic volunteers affiliated with the Harishchandrapur Police Station have been suspended from duty following accusations of assaulting a goods vehicle driver for allegedly refusing to pay a bribe. The incident occurred on Thursday around 4 pm at Bhalabari Naka Point under Rashidabad Gram Panchayat, an isolated area known for criminal activities.
The matter gained widespread attention after a video, allegedly showing the driver being physically assaulted by the volunteers, went viral on social media on Friday. The authenticity of the viral video has not yet been independently verified.
Driver Assaulted for Refusing Bribe
According to police reports, the victim, identified as Ruhul Ali from Bangrua village, was transporting cattle from the Dalkhola market in neighboring Uttar Dinajpur district to Harishchandrapur when he was stopped by the accused civic volunteers—Sahajamal, Asmaul Hoque, and Asad Ali.
The victim alleged that the volunteers initially demanded a bribe of Rs 1,000. When Ali refused to pay more than Rs 500, he was dragged from his mini truck and beaten.
Police Initiate Departmental Inquiry, No Arrests Yet
Somnath Saha, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Chanchal, confirmed that the accused volunteers have been suspended and sent to police lines. A departmental inquiry is underway.
"No arrests have been made yet, but we have initiated a departmental inquiry," SDPO Saha stated.
Ali, who sustained injuries during the assault, received initial medical treatment at Harishchandrapur Rural Hospital before filing an official complaint at the local police station.
Investigation Underway with CCTV and Video Evidence
Authorities are examining available CCTV footage from the area, along with various video clips circulating on social media platforms, as part of their ongoing investigation.
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