I would have put DGP in lock up with businessman, says Champion
From Our Correspondent
TURA: Former Meghalaya Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who left the State police force to form the militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has accused his former boss, then Director General of Police (DGP)BK Dey Sawain, of breaking the law in getting an offender released from the police lock up only because the accused happened to be a close friend of the police chief.
The GNLA chairman and former cop Champion R Sangma has for the first time spoken out on the recent court order which issued an arrest warrant against him for a case that took place in Shillong in 2009.
The court issued the arrest warrant for having slapped a renowned city businessman, the proprieter of Bhajanlal’s, Police Bazar.
In a statement given to a section of the media, Champion who was then a DSP recalled getting a call from his friend Dr Jimmy N Sangma while he was in the Shillong SP’s office.
“He informed me that he was beaten by the businessman. I rushed to police bazar and found Dr Jimmy crying in front of Bhajanlal’s shop with a swollen face,” said the rebel police officer who then took the doctor to the Sardar police station where an FIR was lodged against the businessman.
After completion of the formalities the businessman was brought to the police station but according to the DSP he refused to comply with the questioning warning that he had powerful friends in the political and bureaucratic circles of Shillong. “He started talking about connections to the chief minister and DGP Sawain like nobody was above him. He was so arrogant that I had to slap him on his face. I also hit him with a stick and only then he was sent for medical examination,” said Champion Sangma.
He said that the businessman’ relatives frantically began to call up ministers and high ranking police officers seeking help after he locked up Bhajanlal inside the police cell for the night.
“Later in the evening, to my utter surprise, DGP Sawain arrived at the police station driving his vehicle all alone. He even scolded the
Officer-in-Charge but did not dare to enter the station as long as I was inside,” said Champion Sangma.
He revealed that the DGP broke the law by releasing the accused businessman even though he had already been booked with an FIR.
“If I had my way I would have also put DGP Sawain behind the lock up with his friend to cool their heels,” said the GNLA militant chief.
He has accused the former DGP of instigating Bhajanlal to file a counter FIR against him for the slap and the beating the businessman got with a stick.
“Later during the enquiry Additional DGP asked me the reasons for slapping Bhajanlal. I gave my side of the story and the arrogance of the businessman which compelled me to react although I had no intention to do so,” the former DSP mentioned.
The rebel officer was all praise for high court advocate Sujit Dey who won the case against the government by getting the non-bailable arrest warrant against his wife squashed in the Court.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shillong, has issued a fresh arrest warrant against the former DSP in the Bhajanlal case but recalled and cancelled a previous non-bailable arrest warrant against his wife.
The manner in which the state police department moved the court to issue arrest warrants against both Champion and his wife was seen by many as a clear case of vindictiveness and witch hunting.
Champion’s wife to file defamation suit: Meanwhile, the wife of former DSP Champion R Sangma has decided to file a defamation case against the Meghalaya police for dragging her into the Bhajanlal incident for no fault of hers.
The wife of the rebel cop, Mrs. Enrita N Marak will be moving the courts for a defamation suit under section 466 of the CrPC against the Meghalaya government, particularly the state police force.