Deputy Range Officer arrested at Umrangso

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

HAFLONG, March 20: Police on Thursday arrested a Deputy Range Officer of the State Forest and environment department on charges of taking money from vehicle near Umrangso.

Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner (DC) Barun Bhuyan, who is also the Chairman of District Vigilance & Anti-Corruption said that Deputy Range Officer Illuning Zeme of Khandong Forest gate has been arrested while he was taking money from vehicle passing through the Khandong gate near Umrangso bordering Meghalaya.

DC Bhuyan in a press meet at his official residence on Thursday said that there was information that some people not only of forest department but also of police department were involved in collecting money from vehicles passing through gates.

“We caught him red handed acting on a specific input,” Bhuyan said.

A case has been registered at Umrangsu police station vide case no 14/15 against him. Later, however, he was released on bail.

The accused Deputy Range Officer, however, pleading his innocence said that he has been a victim of a conspiracy hatched by certain forces against him.