6 PUNJAB COPS ACCUSED OF CONNIVING WITH PEDDLER

Chandigarh -- Six cops in the Punjab Police have been accused of
conniving with the notorious drug peddler, Raju, who was arrested by
the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) last week. According to NCB
officials, Raju disclosed that he used to give Rs 10,000 to each
police station every month in order to check police monitoring in the
narcotics smuggling.

Raju also revealed to NCB that the cops were collection agents of the
senior officers and used to pass on the money after taking it from
him. He said the constables used to collect the money on every third
or fourth day of the month.

The names of the accused, including a head constable in the Crime
Branch and other constables , were given to the Superintendent of
Police (SP), Chandigarh, for necessary action, after Raju gave enough
evidence against them. According to sources, officials are considering
suspending the head constable in two or three days.

The six cops accused of patronising Raju include a head constable and
a constable from the Sector 39 police station, one constable each from
the Sector 36 and Sector 31 police stations, a head constable and a
constable from the Crime Branch and a constable from the Operation
Cell.

Dr Saji Mohan, Director of Chandigarh Zone, NCB, said: "All accused
are of the rank of head constables and constables. We have given the
list to the SSP of Chandigarh to look into the matter."

There are about four cops in Punjab police and seven in Patiala jail
who promoted the illegal activity in connivance with Raju, they added.

"Their names have been given to a DIG level officer of CID in Punjab
for their information," the officials said.

However, SSP Sudhanshu Srivastava said that they would thoroughly look
into the matter before taking any action against the cops. "These are
serious allegations. The entire matter will be probed thoroughly," he
said.