Police to local media: Should have reported both sides of story
The Dimapur police have rubbished the claims of a government
teacher, one Samuel Sumi, who claimed to have been assaulted by police
personnel during a raid for liquor on June 18 in Dimapur. In fact, police said,
the government teacher tried to escape under cover of darkness and was caught
and then even while being detained, he tried again to escape.
The police issued a strong statement on Saturday implying
that the local media should have demonstrated journalistic professionalism by
taking into account both sides of the story.
“It was only when the party was about to move out from the
location with seized consignments and detained persons that, he announced that
the premise belonged to his uncle and protested being taken to the police
station,” the police said in the clarification.
The police did not deny that some physical injury was caused
to the person during the fracas that followed the raid for liquor and the
resultant chase after the persons which included the teacher. The police
assured that the circumstances would be delved into and responsibility will be
‘fixed’.
The authorities also rubbished the allegations that a child
and a women were assaulted and that the police personnel were drunken at all. “Allegations
of assault upon a child and a woman is fabricated. Also, that the police
personnel were under the influence of liquor is completely false. The entire
exercise was done within half an hour and the allegations that people were
detained in the spot for hours is unfounded. It is a fact that seven persons
were taken to the police station for further enquiry after being found near the
truck. Five of them were released provisionally including Mr. Samuel Sumi,
while two of them have been officially arrested,” the police said.
Investigation is still under progress and more arrests will
be made, the police said. 45 cases of liquor were found in the truck. The
vehicle had the registration number (NL05G-0388), it stated.
Giving the accounts, the police said that on the night of
June 18, citizens had complained that a truck parked in Model village of 5th
Mile was being loaded with liquor. Accordingly, mobile police units rushed to
the location and found that the truck was being loaded into with cases of liquor
by a group of men.
“On seeing the police, few of them tried to escape in the
cover of darkness but were chased and caught by the cordon team. Amongst those
detained was Mr. Samuel Sumi, a government teacher residing near the premise.
He tried to escape again while being detained but was caught. It was only when
the party was about to move out from the location with seized consignments and
detained persons that, he announced that the premise belonged to his uncle and
protested being taken to the police station,” the authorities clarified.
The Dimapur police do not deny that in the melee physical
injury was caused to the teacher and excesses are regretted. “Circumstances and
resultant actions undertaken by the police personnel is being enquired into and
responsibilities will be fixed,” the clarification stated.
To the local newspapers and media, the police had this word
of appeal: “While appreciating the role of the media in bringing out issues and
causes to the public domain, Dimapur Police would like to appeal that for such
matters having ramifications upon the image of a department, confirmation and
clarifications may be sought before it is published so that equal opportunity
is provided to highlight the other side of the story and the reports thus published
are balanced”.
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