"6 male officials of Borkhola Police entered my home and threatened my mother,” says man who filmed drunk Police official in Cachar’s Dolu

Borkhola Police is again under the scanner. A official in uniform deployed in Dolu Bazar under the jurisdiction of Borkhola Police was caught drunk. The official visible in Khaki Police Uniform was so drunk that he needed another official to hand him support. The Official, moreover, was seen pointing fingers and talking. 

When a passerby in the busy market area saw these visuals in front of his eyes, he filmed it. It is worth mentioning here that the DGP of Assam has initiated a campaign against Police Officials who are drinking on duty. The Chief Minister of Assam has also issued warning against this. In such a scenario, a Police official was loitering around drunk.

The individual who filmed the video shared it among his friend circle. One of the friends currently living in Chennai, uploaded it on Facebook mentioning that an official from Borkhola Police station is spotted drunk. Soon after that, the Police officials started tracking and tracing. They went to the resident of uploader and found out that he resides in Chennai.

“They pressurised his family members and eventually got to know that I have filmed the video. Six officials reached my home and barged in when my mother was pleading before them to wait till a male member reaches home. Not just they entered our home and threatened my mother, they also snatched my father’s phone without providing any reason,” said Piklu Roy who filmed the video.

It is worth mentioning here that the Police formation that got so irked because someone uploaded one of their videos, itself often uses social media to shame criminal or alleged offenders. During pandemic-induced lockdowns the Police officials filmed assault on offenders and uploaded the same on social media handles. During Maha Shivratri, the Police officials along with department of Excise checked bags and filmed the ones caught with liquor, even if they have bought it legitimately. Move on to the issue that the Chief Minister of Assam flagged off – checking drinking and driving on the roads and using media/social media to promote them and shame offender.

When asked what irked the Borkhola Police so much that six officials had to go running to the residence of the individual who shot the video featuring one of their men intoxicated? “Look the individual filmed in drunk condition isn’t deployed in Borkhola Police Station and is actually a member of the Silchar Sadar Police Station. He wasn’t even on duty at the time the video was filmed. So, when we saw the Social Media post stating an Official of Borkhola Police Station was drunk in uniform, we tried to reach out to the person who uploaded the video. The person happened to be from Chennai and he deleted the post. Then the officials got to know about the individual who filmed it and so, they went to their home. I do not have any information of mobile phone seizure, however, I will look into the matter,” said,” OC Borkhola, Manmohan Raut.

Piklu Roy’s mother too shared that she was “very uncomfortable” to have male officials enter her residence in absence of male members. “They straight away started threatening me. They said I must get my son or else the result will be brutal. When they snatched our phone, I asked why is it being seized as this is not my child’s phone. They responded saying my son will follow the phone and so they are snatching the phone.”

Is it within the rights of the Police to snatch phones and intimidate a senior citizen, questioned Roy. “Yes my friend uploaded the video on Social Media and if that has hurt anyone, I am sorry. But, did I commit a crime by filming a drunk official in uniform whose job is it to provide security to us? He himself was unable to stand on his feet and how will he save us from danger? I pray before the chief minister of Assam to ensure that the Police apologises to my mother,” added Roy.

Now all eyes are on Cachar SP. This is the second time in the last 15 days senior citizens of Borkhola have complained against the Borkhola Police. A lady was running from post to pillar begging for justice as her son was killed six months back. She said the Police misbehaved and within 24 hours of the media reports, three individuals were arrested for murdering the lady’s son. Today another woman has raised voice against the Borkhola Police. How SP responds to it is something that remains to be seen.