Jammu, Sept 28: Jammu and Kashmir Police have disengaged a Special Police Officer (SPO) from service and ordered a departmental inquiry against another police personnel after a video allegedly showing a cop demanding money from a truck driver at a checkpoint in Lakhanpur went viral on social media, officials said on Monday.
A senior police official said the action was taken after the video surfaced on social media platforms. Kathua Senior Superintendent of Police Mohita Sharma confirmed the disengagement of the SPO and the departmental inquiry against the other policeman.
The video, reportedly recorded by a truck driver, purportedly shows a uniformed policeman asking the driver for money at the Lakhanpur checkpoint after he failed to produce a bilty, or goods receipt.
According to the video, the driver told the policeman that the goods being transported did not require a bilty. The cop allegedly demanded Rs 100 from the driver, who initially offered Rs 30 before eventually paying the demanded amount and leaving the checkpoint.
The incident triggered reactions on social media, with questions being raised over the alleged collection of an entry fee from commercial vehicles.
The Lakhanpur entry point falls under the jurisdiction of the State Taxes Enforcement Wing in Kathua.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Sunil Kesar, had earlier said the matter had come to the authorities' notice and was being verified.
Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes Enforcement, Kathua, Joginder Singh, said the incident had no connection with his department. He said State Taxes teams were deployed for random checking and verification of e-way bills and had been instructed to remain in proper uniform.
A bilty, also known as a goods receipt, is a transport document issued by a carrier as proof of receiving goods for transportation by road.
The departmental inquiry is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine responsibility.
