Kin arrested, two cops punished for lapses in probe

MLA Gopith Das still at large

A Correspondent

Boko, Sept 20: As molestation-accused AIUDF MLA Gopith Das continued to remain untraced, police have arrested three of his relatives and an aid for allegedly pressurizing the victim's family to withdraw the FIR.

A minor domestic help had accused the Boko MLA of molesting her in a vehicle earlier this month. Das has been absconding along with his PSOs since September 8, with a local court even rejecting his interim bail petition.

Three of his relatives - Biswajit Choudhury, Indrajit Choudhury and Prasenjit Choudhury - were arrested from their Fatasil Ambari residence in the city. They were today sent to judicial custody. The trio is facing charges of pressurizing the victim's family to withdraw the FIR lodged at Boko police station. Another person, Shemlal Barman, was also arrested from Malibari in Boko for "helping the accused".

On the other hand, the officer in charge of garbera police station BHaben th and in-charge of Mondira outpost Amiya Kumar Goswami were today closed to reserve on charges of lapses in investigation of the case. Departmental proceedings have been initiated against them.

Following the complaint by the domestic help, a case against the accused legislator was registered at Boko police station under section 343 of the Indian Pel Code and section 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.