Narcotic Cell OC Shanti remained mute spectator while Amitabh was assaulted; City Police fails to register complaint
By Paojel Chaoba
IMPHAL, April 11: Shedding new light to the assault of sub-inspector Arambam Amitabh by Th Lokeshwar escort personnel yesterday at Kangla gate, during the time of attack, Amitabh was handicapped in his right leg and wearing a crepe bandage due to a sprain. The armed escort of Lokeshwar also had snatched away his gold chain and mobile too.
However, in a report lodged by the escort party said three of the armed escort party wwere attacked by Amitabh himself. This counter report was lodged by the said escort team to City Police station today.
Simply said, the report meant that the nearly 15 heavily armed guards were attacked by a lone handicapped unarmed individual who was accompanied by his wife and two children.
Amitabh Arambam, who was physically incapacitated in the first instance was also mugged by the escort team of Lokeswar of his gold chain and mobile, after badly beating him up. Confirming this at Shija Hospital to this reporter, Amitabh reiterated his ordeal. He said that he was driving along the Kanglapat stretch when a Gypsy which was honking bore down on his tail. The vehicle then turned on the siren and Amitabh had also given way. But , the gypsy nearly brushed aside Amitabh`™s vehicle and as the pilot vehicle overtook, the driver had shouted at Amitabh with abusive language.
Amitabh had also replied of what the big hurry was and the pilot vehicle sped away. The next escort vehicle was following the first one at a distance. As Amitabh swerved his vehicle towards Johnstone School side, the gypsy which was following him suddenly rammed his vehicle from the back and another came up from front and smashed his bumper. `I feel that the pilot vehicle must have contacted the back vehicle on the radio set and ordered to smash into my back bumper,` he said. Then, another vehicle drove up from front and collided with the front bumper. His wife and children were all inside with him during the time of incident.
Amitabh got down from his vehicle and demanded why they had perpetrated the action, he identified himself as a police officer to which came the reply, ` If you are a police officer, what can you do,` by one from among the escort team. The escort party mauled him with their service weapons and sticks and Amitabh defended himself but was overpowered due to the sheer numbers and his sprained leg (which was in a cast). After roughing him up and snatching his gold chain, taking his mobile, the team drove away.
Amitabh`™s wife Vandana told media persons at Shija today that during the whole ordeal, she was repeatedly threatened by the escort party when she asked them to stop assaulting her husband. During the time, Th Lokeshwar was sitting inside his vehicle and watching the scene. Later, they drove away. Another interesting point is that , at the said area, the OC of Narcotic Cell, Shanti was with a number of policemen at the spot and saw the incident. He did not lift a finger to stop the assault.
Later, Vandana lodged a complaint to City Police Station at around 1 am yesterday `This is clear manipulation from higher authorities as my husband who is himself a policeman was assaulted and the criminals are still at large, this is a clear case of nepotism and justice being denied. Those who should serve the public turns on the public and tries to cover it up,`™ she said. . But, the filed report was not registered by the concerned police station till the filing of this report.
Amitabh, who is presently hospitalized at Shija had given his statement of the account to higher police authorities including CO of 8th MR, Leikun of Chandel district to whose unit the escort party belong. `This is too much, the blatant misuse of power by authorities must stop,` Amitabh said, sources mentioned that feelers have been sent from the VIP`™s side to negotiate the matter.