Agartala: The Tripura govt has suspended eight policemen, including the officers-in charge (OCs) of East Agartala Police Station and East Agartala Women Police Station, following observation by the high court in a custodial torture and bribery case involving Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC).The decision comes amid heightened judicial scrutiny concerning claims that a Banamalipur resident and her family faced physical and psychological abuse while in custody after refusing to pay an alleged bribe of Rs 2 lakh related to a building dispute.Home secretary Abhishek Singh told the high court that East Agartala Police Station OC Subrata Debnath, East Agartala Women Police Station OC Shakuntala Debnath, sub-inspector Saikat De, assistant sub-inspector Anand Debbarma, constables Suman Acharya and Mithun Rudrapal, along with special police officers (SPOs) Ripul Debnath and Shubhankar Dhar, have been suspended following an inquiry.Singh said arrested SPO Joy Debnath and Rabindra Narayan Ghosh, an employee of AMC’s temporary task force, have been terminated and are in judicial custody.A showcause notice has also been issued to home department under secretary Samarendra Debbarma, as the court raised concerns about possible departmental action against him for allegedly submitting a misleading affidavit, Singh said.The case is currently under review by a division bench, including Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Biswajit Palit. The court said the investigation will proceed under its direct supervision.The dispute originated from a complaint by Banamalipur resident Ratna Roy, who alleged that AMC halted construction on her home and AMC task force worker Ghosh later demanded a Rs 2 lakh bribe from her son. When they allegedly refuse to pay, a group led by Ghosh, along with police officers, entered her house on the night of April 4.Ratna Roy’s son, Saikat Saha, was allegedly beaten, taken to East Agartala Police Station and sexually abused in custody. Roy and her husband also alleged they were assaulted.Roy claimed that despite multiple complaints to senior police officials, no FIR was initially registered. An FIR was filed after she approached the high court, and the court issued notice on May 5.
