IMPHAL, May 21: The simple mistake of sticking to security protocol by a quick response team (QRT) of the State police have landed them in the lock-up of Imphal West police station, as the ‘complaints’ against the police team came from a close relative of the incumbent Chief Minister.
The incident occurred at around 8.45 pm near Ima Market area on May 19 last. When a Nissan Terrano car was found parked with the headlights on high beam, Inspector Geetchandra along with other policemen who were on QRT duty at that time came to inquire.
According to reliable sources, the driver of the car who was in an inebriated state had made tall claims that he was related with a VVIP, told the policemen to leave him and his friends alone.
After a heated exchange of words, it was stated that inspector Geetchandra of the Civil and Armed Reserve had allegedly slapped the person following the latter’s refusal to cooperate and instead stubbornly resisted the officer’s caution.
Later, telephone calls were made by the passengers inside the car apparently to his mentors. A woman and her daughter were also inside the vehicle and one of them turned out to be the wife of a certain Gojen from Thoubal district, and a brother-in-law of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.
After the communication, the driver along with the passengers was allowed to leave but the inspector along with his team were made to undergo a medical check- up at RIMS.
Later, the inspector, City Police assistant sub-inspector Kumar and three police constables were summoned to the Imphal Police Headquarters. They were later relieved of their service weapons and put in lock up, allegedly as per the demand of the VIP relative.
Personnel of Imphal West Police while requesting anonymity have strongly resented the high-handedness of the Chief Minister’s relative for misuse of power, claiming that the incident will have a demoralising effect on the police force.