Police DB squad accused of demanding Rs 70,000 from banned Mangur fish trader

The detection branch (DB) squad of a police station in the district has been accused of extortion, and the case has taken a new turn. The squad is alleged to have demanded Rs 70,000 from a trader dealing in the banned Mangur fish. The matter has been reported earlier, and the names of those said to be involved in the extortion are now slowly emerging.

It is said that the DB squad took action against the trader who sold Mangur fish, but the action was not authorised. According to the allegation, the squad's only aim was extortion, and Rs 70,000 was demanded for that purpose.

Mangur fish is banned, which is true. Even so, it is alleged that, in the name of action, the squad raided the trader's premises without any authority. He was threatened with the law. The trader panicked that he would now face action, and began looking to the policemen in the hope that a settlement might be reached. The policemen then said that they would not take action, but he would have to pay Rs 70,000.

The trader showed readiness to pay. As the day for handing over the money neared, two DB squad personnel brought along a man named Naseeb to act as a witness (panch). While handing over Rs 40,000, the trader made a video of it. It is alleged that the policemen were overjoyed as soon as the Rs 40,000 reached their hands. Only Rs 30,000 now remained.

Before that, however, the DB squad learnt that a video of them taking the money had been made. Naseeb was alarmed on hearing this and did not know what to do.

The squad then calmly made a plan. The trader was called to the police station, his mobile phone was taken and the video deleted, and the remaining amount was then demanded. The big question is whether the video has really been deleted. The answer should come in the next few days.