A craving for gallantry medals has landed two police officers in a trap, allegedly designed by them.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers on Saturday evening arrested inspector Ashok Kumar Singh and assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Raj Kumar Choudhary, both posted at Mokama in Patna rural, over a fake encounter case. The duo were arrested after they were called at the police headquarters for inquiry. They have been remanded in judicial custody.

An officer posted as SHO in Patna said Ashok Kumar Singh was swayed over by a senior cop’s statement that the police would have to do something to check incidents of crime in vulnerable areas. “Singh thought that the encounter will not only make him a hero in the eyes of the officer concerned but also fetch him gallantry medals,” the officer said.

Two months ago the two officers had thought of bagging medals for their bravery to “shoot” two youths, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, in an encounter. But their hopes have been shattered and both are languishing in jail.

Singh, who was posted as station house officer in Mokama, around 100km east of Patna, said: “I was told in the evening that I have been arrested, along with the ASI. We were summoned by the Secretariat police station for investigation,” he said.

The former Mokama SHO regretted that nobody was ready to listen to his pleas.

“At least they should have waited for the forensic science laboratory report (it is yet to come). I am a public servant and how can someone in the police department escape? The irony is that even officers who till recently praised me for good work are not ready to pay heed to my grievances,” Singh said.

He added: “I have faith in the department, which I have been serving for over 27 years and (also in) the judiciary that will do justice to me,” the officer said.

Singh, along with ASI Raj Kumar, havildar Mahesh Prasad and constables Ravish Chandra, Bhushan Kumar and Abhishek Kumar, have been charged with killing Raju Singh and Amar Kumar, both residents of Khagaria, in a “staged” encounter on the Mokama bypass on May 31 night. Raju is said to be a close relative of JD(U) MLA from Barhariya in Siwan, Shyam Bihari Singh.

PERFECT PLOT

Day, May 31 night

What happened that night?*

Police spot an SUV with a VIP registration number
Police signal it to stop
SUV tries to flee
Police give SUV a chase and bring it to a halt
Passengers in SUV fire at the police and try to flee
Police give them chase and shoot two (Raju Singh and Amar Kumar) dead
Three men flee

(*Based on the statement of SHO Ashok Kumar Singh)