Cops dismissed following news channel sting operation

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (UNI) Punjab Police today lodged an FIR against four policemen and dismissed two of them immediately following a sting operation telecast by a news channel in which the cops were shown taking money for contraband drugs.

All the four cops were presently absconding after an FIR under section 311 of Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against them at Makandpur police staion in Nawanshahar district, ADGP (Intelligence) J P Birdi said at a press conference here.

An inquiry into the case has been marked to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, while a hunt has been launched to nab the cops who had gone ''underground'', he said.

''I must thank the news channel for the sting operation that really helped us to know what was going on at the ground level,'' Mr Birdi said.

The accused were identified as SHO, Inspector Jagdish Singh of Banga police staion, Sub-Inspector Satnam Singh of Makandpur police station, Sub-Inspector Darshan Singh of Banga police station and Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Surjit Singh, who had been deputed at Asron police post.

Inspector Jagdish Singh and ASI Surjit Singh were dismissed as both of them were shown accepting the money in the TV expose.

Mr Birdi informed that as many as 31 cops had been dismissed in 2006 alone under the Prevention of Corruption Act, while probe against several others were underway at different levels following the accusation of corruption against them.

UNI PS JN VA SSC1800