UP: Villagers hold 2 policemen hostage, accuse them of extortion
Meerut (UP) (PTI): Two policemen here were allegedly held hostage by villagers, who accused them of extorting money and also beat them up, officials said.
Sub-inspector Satyendra and trainee sub-inspector Shivam posted at the Parikshitgarh police station were held hostage and beaten up in the Govindpuri village on Saturday night. Police force from several police stations reached the spot upon receiving the information, they added.
The villagers created a ruckus for several hours in front of the police officers alleging that sub-inspector Satyendra was harassing shopkeepers for several days. Every day he used to extort money from someone or the other and threatened to send them to jail if people opposed, the villagers said.
The villagers also demanded suspension of both the sub-inspectors and filing of a report.
Circle Officer (Rural) Navina Shukla somehow pacified the villagers and assured action against both the accused policemen.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Vipin Tada told PTI that the villagers accused both the sub-inspectors of extortion.
He said the circle officer, Sadar, has been asked to probe the matter.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Family of injured driver in murder of Suvendu's aide seeks exemplary punishment
Kolkata (PTI): The family of Buddhabeb Bera, the driver injured in the shooting that killed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible and urged the new government to ensure such incidents do not happen in West Bengal.
Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram near Kolkata on Wednesday night, triggering a political storm in the state. Bera, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the attack, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Family members said they learned about the incident through television and immediately left for Kolkata.
ALSO READ: Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
"We came to know from TV reports that my nephew had been shot. We still do not know who carried out the attack or why it happened," Buddhabeb's uncle Biswajit Bera said.
"Our only wish now is that he recovers and returns home safely," he added.
Buddhabeb, 25, hails from Majnaberia village in the Chandipur police station area in Purba Medinipur district.
According to family members, he mostly stays in Kolkata for work and visits home occasionally during weekends.
Besides his parents, his younger brother, sister-in-law and several relatives have also travelled to Kolkata following the incident.
Demanding strict action against the perpetrators, the uncle said, "We want the government to conduct a proper investigation and identify those directly involved in the crime. They should be given exemplary punishment so that such incidents do not happen again in West Bengal and no other family has to go through this grief."
A neighbour, Ranjana Ghorai, also sought stringent punishment for those behind the attack.
"In our neighbourhood, we call him Sona. We want exemplary punishment for the people responsible for this incident," she said.
Rath's family members have demanded life imprisonment for the accused, while Adhikari has called for capital punishment for those involved in the killing.
