Patna, Nov. 11: A probationary sub-inspector of Airport police station assaulted a middle-aged man this afternoon in the Siddheshwar Nagar area for not refunding money of one of his buddies.

The victim, Rupesh Kumar Mishra, has lodged an FIR against the cop, Bindeshwari Prasad, and his buddy, Naresh Kumar, at Patliputra police station. A departmental inquiry has been initiated against the probationary sub-inspector.

City superintendent of police (central) Shivdeep Lande said: “Rupesh had hired a car of Naresh during the Assembly elections. But he made partial payment of its rent and owed Rs 15,000 to Naresh. After a few days, Naresh started threatening Rupesh over phone with dire consequences if the amount was not paid.”

Naresh called up Rupesh this morning also and demanded the money. When he did not get any specific date on payment, sources said, he asked his police friend to teach Rupesh a lesson. Bindeshwari immediately agreed to help his buddy in recovering the dues.

“Bindeshwari is posted at the Airport police station but he neither bothered about the jurisdiction of his duty nor his job responsibility. He straight went to Rupesh’s home with Naresh in the afternoon in uniform. After threatening Rupesh verbally, Naresh and Bindeshwari roughed up the former,” the senior said.

Later, Rupesh came to the Patliputra police station and lodged an FIR.

“Naresh, too, has lodged a complaint against Rupesh for non-payment of dues. The police will investigate the matter from all angles. But the probationary sub-inspector made a grave mistake. A note has been sent to conduct a departmental inquiry against him,” Lande added.

Instances of probationary sub-inspectors misbehaving with people are aplenty. On July 14, wife of a probationary sub-inspector posted at Agamkuan police station came to the office of Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) and accused her husband of physically torturing her for dowry.

On June 9, two probationary sub-inspectors posted at Rajiv Nagar police station in the state capital allegedly beat up a security guard posted outside a park because the latter requested them not to go inside because renovation work was on.

On January 10, businessmen of Hari Niwas under the Kotwali police station staged a road blockade alleging that a probationary sub-inspector had beaten up a shopkeeper.

On December 29 last year, two policemen, an assistant sub-inspector and a probationary sub-inspector exchanged blows on Govind Mitra Road under Pirbhore police station in daylight.

After receiving a flurry of complaints on misbehaviour of probationary sub-inspectors, Patna SSP Alok Kumar directed all the probationary sub-inspectors to be present at the Police Lines twice a week for mandatory parade session so that they could be disciplined.