Naugachhia: Deputy inspector general of police (DIG), Bhagalpur zone, Vikash Vaibhav on Wednesday evening suspended the Bihpur police station house officer (SHO) and shunted out the seven other police personnel there for irresponsible conduct, inefficiency, and suspected connivance with criminals.
He directed new personnel to join overnight.
DIG Vaibhav said he took the action to ensure the arrest of those involved in the killing of four local youths at the diara (river island) areas in neighbouring Khagaria district and also for curbing crime in the diara areas under Naugachhia police district, a sub-division of Bhagalpur around 240km east of Patna that was made a police district in 1991.
Earlier, on November 19, the DIG conducted raids from Kahalgaon to Naugachhia on boats and instructed SHOs of the police stations in the areas.
Two of the four men, whose chopped bodies are suspected to have been thrown into the Ganga at Lagma diara under Parbatta police station in Khagaria district on November 14, were from areas under Bihpur police station.
The suspected mastermind of the killings, Pinku Jha, is also from Bihpur and is absconding.
"It was apparently clear that Bihpur police were aware of the disappearance of the four youths and their killing," the DIG said.
"On November 16 police even came to know about some seven other persons involved in the incident. Unfortunately, no action was taken by the police. I even instructed the officer, (suspended SHO) Ramvichar Singh, to ensure arrest of Pinku. Pinku was staying at Gouripur but it has come to our knowledge that Ramvichar helped Pinku to escape from police net."
When kin of the four youths approach the police, Ramvichar registered an FIR against two of the four victims, Chhotu Choudhary (30) and Sourav Kumar a.k.a Karay Roy (26)
"It was a classic case of irresponsible conduct and negligence of duty," Vaibhav said. "Earlier we had complains against the SHO for his nexus with criminals. The matter is under investigation and if the allegations are found to be true, the suspended cop will have to face legal consequences.
"All the officials in police stations in the area have been told to launch intensive operations against criminals."
