The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch on Saturday arrested a Havildar posted at the Bicharganj police outpost in Baleswar town for his alleged link with a notorious drug peddler.
Two days ago, the Havildar Ranjan Sahu had been suspended from his service by the district SP following the allegations.
However, Constable Pradeep Dey, who is also an accused in this connection, is absconding. The duo allegedly tipped off the drug peddler SK Raja minutes before conducting a raid. Raja was nabbed on September 15. Raja was produced before the District and Sessions Judge Court, from where he was sent to jail.
Notably, Raja had direct contact with drug mafia in Bangladesh. Several criminal cases, including extortion and firing, are pending against him at different police stations across the State. On September 15, a STF team had arrested Raja from Padmapur under the Khandagiri police station in Bhubaneswar. The cops had also seized cash of Rs 1 lakh, a pistol, six mobile phones and ATM cards from his possession.
