Bengal villagers give police a tough time

The officers of Pydhonie police, who went to a Bengal village last week to arrest a man wanted in a theft case in Mumbai, faced resistance from villagers. The officers had to seek police
protection, after which they could bring back the accused.

Senior inspector Shamsher Pathan said that in June last year, jeweller Rajendra Vaidya, 48, had given a necklace worth Rs16lakh to one Gopal Adak, 50, who has a jewellery polishing unit in Pydhonie.

“Two workers from Adak’s unit, Abhijit Mida, 30, and Tapan Mitra, 30, both from Kespura village of Midnapur district in West Bengal, fled with the necklace,” Pathan said, adding that Abhijit was arrested by the crime branch in November last year.

Ashok Patil, an assistant police inspector, said: “Abhijit said the necklace was with Tapan who is holed up in Kespura. A police team went to the village, but returned empty-handed.”

Adak then went to the village and told the villagers that he would reward them if they helped him nab Tapan. On February 10, the villagers called Adak and informed him that they had got hold of Tapan and would hand him over to the local police. Adak then informed the police officers in Mumbai.

When a Mumbai police team reached the Keshpura police station, it was surrounded  by villagers who wanted the reward. When the team went to court to seek Tapan’s transit remand, a mob of 300-odd villagers tried to stop them.

Pathan said the local police did not help the team at all. “Sensing trouble from the villagers, we gave an application in the court for police protection till we left for Mumbai. Tapan was brought to the city on Monday. We have recovered the necklace. The police have sought Tapan’s custody from the local court in Mumbai till February 22,” said Pathan.