Ballia (UP): Two police personnel and 16 touts were arrested and the entire staff of one police outpost was suspended for extorting money from the truck drivers on the Ballia-Bihar border in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, police sources said here.
Police sources said on the information of extortion from truck drivers in Bharauli Golamar under Narahi police station near Ballia-Bihar order, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Varanasi zone Piyush Mordiya and DIG Azamgarh Vaibhav Krishna carried out a raid in plain clothes on Wednesday night.
Police sources said during the raid two policemen and 16 touts were arrested from the spot.
"After this, the entire staff of Korantadih police outpost along with Station House Officer (SHO) of Narahi police station Panne Lal have been suspended. A case has been lodged against 20 people, including 8 police personnel," they said.
DIG Azamgarh Vaibhav Krishna said information regarding extortion from truck drivers in Barauli Golambar under Narahi police station was being received. "As per the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, first recce of the area was done and then as per planning, a raid was carried out by ADG Zone and him in plain clothes," he said.
He said during the raid it was found that Rs 500 per truck was being extorted. "Every day around 1,000 trucks pass through the area. "16 touts and 2 policemen were arrested from the spot. Three policemen managed to flee from the spot," he said.
The DIG said after this the Korantadih police outpost was checked where extortion was being done. "The entire staff of Korantahdih police outpost, including Station Officer Rajesh Kumar Prabhakar, along with SHO of Narahi police station Panne Lal have been suspended. Rs 37,500 was recovered during the raid. A case has been lodged against 8 policemen," he said.
He said several rooms, including the office of SHO Narahi, have been sealed.