Cop linked to Maoists attempts suicide

KUMUD JENAMANI

Jamshedpur, Oct. 13: A police sub-inspector tried to commit suicide inside his police station while being interrogated last night for his alleged links with an area commander of the CPI(Maoist) in Kuchai in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

Habil Bara, the sub- inspector posted at Dalbhanga Thana outpost in Kuchai, was admitted to the ICU of Tata Main Hospital where he was being treated for injuries, police sources claimed, he sustained while attempting to take his life.

Bara’s alleged links with Maoist leader Shyam Mahto were revealed by two rebels who were arrested yesterday from Kuchai, a transit point for rebels, who use the jungles to hold training camps and travel to Saranda in West Singhbhum, Ghatshila and Bengal.

During interrogation, Feroj Singh Munda and Lakhan Sardar told the superintendent of police of Seraikela Kharsawan, Abhishek, that sub-inspector Bara was known to the Maoists and their area commander. Bara was also privy to various “underhand dealings” with them, the duo added.

The police had seized a pair of whistles, rifle springs and Maoist literature from the two, who were on their way to hand them over to Mahto in Kuchai.

The superintendent of police summoned Bara immediately and began grilling him. A little later, according to police sources, the sub-inspector left the room saying he was feeling unwell and then tried to hang himself from a ceiling fan in an adjoining room at the Kuchai police station.

Other policemen, who were keeping a watch, prevented him from going ahead. But by then, Bara was injured.

“When we summoned the sub-inspector to the police station and began interrogating him about his (Maoist) links, he fell sick suddenly. Later, he had to be admitted to hospital,” Abhishek said, refusing to confirm or deny that it was a suicide attempt.

The superintendent of police admitted the allegation that Bara, a resident of Roshanpur village in Sisai in Gumla, used to help Maoists of Kuchai was serious.

“Though initial reports suggest that Bara used to extend tacit support to Naxalites, we do not have any material evidence against him. Therefore, we will have to probe further,” the SP said.

“Moreover, the sub-inspector is undergoing treatment at TMH and we will be able to resume interrogation only after he recovers,” he added.

Bara was under police watch at the hospital. His wife, Fulkari Toppo, and his daughter, Shital, were at the hospital last night.

“I am not aware what happened to my husband and how he fell sick,” said the school teacher while she was waiting outside the ICU. TT