Berhampur: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of traffic was suspended for extortion during the verification of vehicle documents here Saturday.
The suspended ASI was identified as Sugu Subbarao. SP Pinak Mishra suspended him from service after a probe indicted him.
The SP’s decision has been welcomed by residents amidst reports of the public and the police having serious face-offs at various places after the new traffic rules came into force in the state.
Reports said a villager named Bhadrinath Panda of Saru village in Hinjilicut police limits visited Berhampur for a medical check-up August 27. He was intercepted by the police at Fast Gate and ASI Sugu Narayan checked the documents of his bike. The ASI detected some errors and asked him to pay a penalty of Rs 200. Panda paid Rs 200 and demanded a receipt.
However, the ASI instead of giving him a receipt threatened him and asked him to leave immediately. Panda lodged a complaint against the ASI at the traffic police station.
Traffic DSP Rama Krushna Pati registered a case, conducted a probe and submitted a report to SP Pinak Mishra confirming the charges. On the basis of the probe report the SP suspended the ASI.
PNN