Assam double murder: ‘I did my duty to the best of my ability’, says suspended cop

GUWAHATI, July 16, 2018: With the suspension of Simaluguri police station officer-in-charge, Ujjal Goswami over dereliction of duty in the murder case of a 20-year-old student on Dibrugarh-Rangia Express on Tuesday, police officers have been protesting against the decision.

"Goswami immediately rushed to the spot and informed the Sivasagar superintendent of police. It is a GRP (Government Railway Police) case and he did as much as he could. He cannot stop the train for long without the order of higher officials," said his batchmate.

Goswami said, "I received my suspension order on July 12. I did my duty to the best of my ability."

Narrating the events of July 10, he said, "I was waiting at Nazira court to depose as a witness in a case. I was checking Facebook when I came across a post that a young girl's body had been recovered from a train at Simaluguri railway station. I had not been informed about it by the OC of GRP police station. I decided to leave the court and rush to the station as the recovery of a girl's body was a serious case. It took me around 30 minutes to reach the station."

Simaluguri railway station is around 7km from Nazira court.

Goswami said he saw the train had already left and the body was on the platform. "I decided to speak to the passengers on the platform and inform the guardians of the victim and sent the body for post-mortem. The GRP made a mistake by not detaching the coach in which the body was recovered. I called the Sivasagar SP and informed him. The case did not take place under my jurisdiction but I did whatever I could. I cannot direct the GRP officer-in-charge."

Sivasagar superintendent of police Subodh Sonowal did not reply to calls and text messages.

There has been no action taken against the GRP officer for not detaching the coach or against railway officials for the non-functional CCTVs, scanner and shortage of staff.

Senior divisional security commandant of Tinsukia railway division Bharat Singh Meena, said, "I have written repeated letters on the non-functioning CCTVs and scanner but no action has been taken so far."

Commuter Vishakha Nagori said the security lapses are shocking. "Why are there assurances of repairing the CCTVs after the twin rape and murders? Why has no action been taken against railway officials?" she asked.

"What is the guarantee the new CCTVs will function properly? First, accountability and responsibility should be fixed at the top level with strict action," echoed a sub-inspector.

Source: The Telegraph

Featured image: Representation