Vehicles stranded on the Daitari-Paradip highway. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, May 22: Three policemen were suspended yesterday for extorting money from truck drivers on the Daitari-Paradip highway.

Taking advantage for traffic jam on the express highway that connects the mineral-rich hinterland with Paradip port, the cops were found taking money from the crews of ore-laden trucks for letting them violate traffic regulations.

“Three constables of armed police constabulary have been placed under suspension after the charge that they were extorting truck drivers was proved. The erring constables were Bania Pradhan, Kapil Chandra Prusty and Ram Chandra Sahu,” said Kendrapara SP Narasingha Bhol.

The NH-5A is being hit by frequent traffic jams following a rise in ore transportation to Paradip port. A section of policemen on traffic control duty allegedly resorted to unlawful practice of allowing the ore-laden trucks to break traffic rules and move on the way meant for other vehicles.

In exchange, they were being bribed by the truck operators and crews. The truck operators were saving precious time for making another trip to collect cargo because they didn’t have to get stuck in the jam.

In the process, both the truck operators and corrupt cops got benefited while the common people got delayed in traffic jam, SP Bhol said.

“We have received reports of patrol teams engaging middlemen to collect bribes on their behalf. There are also allegations that officers of highway-side police stations were hand-in-glove with the unscrupulous NH patrol teams. A separate inquiry is being made to ascertain whether the police station officials are party to this nefarious practice,” he added.