A group of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) troopers on Friday forcibly took away a murder accused SSB officer from the West Bengal Police in South 24 Parganas district but later handed him back to police following intervention by top officials.
The incident took place on Friday morning when SSB commandant Deepak Kumar Singh, arrested on Thursday from Diamond Harbour for allegedly shooting a person during a raid, was being taken for a medical check up by police, a senior officer said.
"Six or seven SSB jawans came and forcibly freed him from police while he was being taken for a medical check up. Singh and the SSB personnel then sped off from the spot in one of their vehicles," Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Anuj Sharma told IANS.
The commandant was later handed back to police by the SSB personnel and has been produced to the court along with the the other accused in the murder case.
"Singh was handed over to the police later. He has been produced to the court. I have already talked to the Inspector General of SSB regarding today's development. Let's see what happens," he said.
However, he refused to give out any details on whether the state administration would take up the matter of intervention in police proceedings with the Central government.
The accused commandant claimed that he is being framed by the state police and said he has full faith in the judicial system.
"The work that should have fetched me a gallantry medal, has put me in this queer situation instead. but I have not lost hope. I have full faith on the judge," Singh said.
"I did not run away. I am being framed in a wrong way," he claimed before being whisked away by the state police officials.
The other SSB personnel Amitabha Pramanik, who was also held in the same case, said that they did not run away and said working for the country's safety is their top-most priority.
"We did not run anywhere.. we are right here. We are the soldiers of this country. No matter whatever work is given to us, we will get that done," he added.
IG, SSB Shrikumar Bandopadhyay said he does not support the act by the troopers and that a departmental inquiry would be initiated against the accused officer as well as those involved in the incident.
Singh was arrested from Daimond Harbour's Sarisha town along with two others, after he allegedly opened fire on a miscreant named Altaf while conducting a raid to catch fake currency smugglers on Thursday. He has been slapped with charges of murder.
--IANS
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