The Gujarat High Court on Monday expressed concern over the situation where protectors become perpetrators, referring to an incident where two traffic policemen and a Traffic Brigade (TRB) jawan extorted money from a couple travelling late at night in Ahmedabad. The court took suo motu cognizance of the incident after reading a news report about it. The report said that the traffic police constables forcibly entered the couple's cab and threatened to book them for violating a police commissioner's notification regarding late-night travel.
"People are safe, no doubt. But if perpetrators are protectors. The issue here is not about criminals. Protectors are perpetrators, we are worried about this situation," the chief justice said when government pleader Manisha Lavkumar Shah told the bench that Gujarat is perhaps the safest state as quoted by news agency PTI.
The officers allegedly demanded a sum of Rs 2 lakh to release the couple. Ultimately, the couple were coerced into paying Rs 60,000.
The court directed the city police chief to submit an action taken report in the matter. It also sought an affidavit by a gazetted officer from the police commissioner's office.
The government pleader told the high court that the concerned traffic officials and the TRB jawan were arrested the following day after an FIR was filed.
According to Shah, the TRB jawan, who is employed on an honorarium basis, was terminated while the two constables were suspended.
A probe has likewise been sent off against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the police commissioner gave a circular to guarantee that residents coming from stations during night hours are not harassed.
According to Shah, strict instructions are given to all in charge officers of police stations regarding the rollcall of officers and home guard jawans.
"All police officers and home guard jawans in night round are directed to have their name plates on their uniforms, and strict action should be taken if they are found missing," the government pleader told the HC.
The high court guided police to finish up the department inquiry against the suspended constables in a time-bound way and saved the matter for the following hearing on September 20.
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