Blot on Khaki: Cop held on charges of illegal trade of seized crackers, liquor in Odisha

In what could be a huge embarrassment for khaki, a home guard was allegedly caught by locals while the two cop was stealthily taking out seized crackers and liquor out of the police station premises on Saturday night. The incident, which took place in Begunia police limits of Khordha district, came to light after a purported video of the same went viral.

According to reports, a team of police officials from the Begunia police station raided an illegal cracker manufacturing unit at Kantabada village last night and seized a huge cache of crackers. A person was also arrested. In another raid, police also seized a car loaded with liquor near Begunia stadium. 

The seized crackers and liquor were kept on the police station premises. At about 1 am, home guard Prakash Muduli and a driver were taking a private van loaded with the seized crackers and liquor out of the police station premises.

At this time, local sarpanch Satyanarayan Pradhan and some residents intercepted the vehicle and asked the home guard about the reason behind the shifting of the seized crackers and liquor. However, the home guard Prakash Muduli could not reply satisfactorily and pleaded with folded hands before the local residents to spare him and his vehicle.

Minutes later, the constable of the police station Siddhesar Mohapatra reached the spot and also urged the sarpanch to spare the home guard and the driver. 

Speaking on the incident, sarpanch Satyanarayan Pradhan said, "The home guard admitted to having brought the seized items from police quarters and also revealed involvement of some police officials. The matter should be investigated by an impartial agency."

Manoj Kumar Ransingh, a local youth, said that police themselves were smuggling the sized crackers and liquor out of the police station. “What will be done if police are involved in such illegality,” he rued.

On being informed about the incident, Khordha SDPO Dillip Das rushed to the spot and tried to placate the locals. He seized the van and brought the home guard and the driver to the police station. The home guard and the driver were later arrested. 

SDPO Dillip Das said, "Two persons including a home guard were arrested and forwarded to court. The matter will be investigated and action will be taken against those found involved in it.”