SHILLONG: Misuse of seized vehicles, weapons and ammunition by Meghalaya Police personnel has come to the fore, with Meghalaya DGP PJP Hanaman taking exception to such cases in a circular issued to the cops end of last year.
“It has been noticed that certain seized properties like vehicles, arms and ammunition are being utilized by the police personnel,” the DGP said in the circular.
According to the circular, ‘these properties are essentially case properties and should be deposited in the Court for keeping in Malkhana or in its custody and using as evidence during trial’.
“Misuse of these properties can have serious legal implications,” the DGP warned.
The DGP also asked the respective district police chiefs (SPs) to ensure that seized properties such as vehicles and arms and ammunition are not utilized by the police personnel when entrusted for safe custody.
There have been reports in the past that besides vehicles, arms and ammunition, even cash seized from militants and criminals were misused. Moreover, there were also allegations that to make fake encounters appear real, seized weapons and ammunition were sometimes planted at the encounter sites.
When contacted, an official source said that only a high-level probe would be able to determine the seriousness of the allegations of misuse of weapons, vehicles and cash by police personnel.