Police raids Atashi Tarafdar’s residence; seizes “documents and other materials”, escorts her to Guwahati

High profile corruption case where Atashi Dutta Tarafder, head assistant of Silchar election office was caught red-handed while receiving bribe from a vendor, continues to stay in the limelight. Today, the vigilance officers of Assam Police’s anti-corruption department conducted a four hours raid at her flat in Shanti Abasan, Nutanpatty.

“At around 6:00 AM in the morning, the officers came in and raided the residence. No society members were given any prior information about the raid, in fact, we got to know about the ongoing raid from the society’s security guard,” informs a member and resident of the society.

After the raid got over at around 10:30 AM, the officers escorted Atashi Dutta Tarafdar to a Police car and apparently left for Guwahati. Our correspondent asked DSP, Mousumi Das about the raid, she said, “We have found some documents and now we will verify them.” When our correspondent asked if the officers seized any cash from the house, Das replied, “Ami Kiba Kibi Paisu,” which translates to, “We found some materials.”

On the other hand the members of the Shanti Abasan society which is located right next to former union minister, Kabindra Purkayastha’s residence are irked by the entire incidence. They are gutted by the ‘Ashanti in Shanti Abasan’, one of the members says, “We are ashamed of the fact that Atashi Dutta Tarafdar is our neighbour.”

Meanwhile, social media has applauded Sujit Chanda, the proprietor of the printing press who refused to pay the bribe and instead seeked for help from the anti-corruption department. Atashi Dutta Tarafdar had asked for Rs, 95,000 as bribe from Chanda who was waiting for a couple of his bills worth Rs 2,50,000 to be cleared. “I had done my work, printed the forms and voter’s list, a contract I got after submitting tender. She was calling me repeatedly and asking for the money, she said if I don’t pay what she is asking me to, I will be deprived from further contracts,” Chanda said to our correspondent.