VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Dec. 26: The issue of the illegal deployment of two armed cops as bodyguards of illegal mining accused Prem Prakash will continue to give a sleepless night to the Jharkhand Police as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has decided to send a fresh notice to the CM Security officer to explain who ordered their deployment.
On October 18 the ED summoned the SP (Security) of the Special Branch to explain how two cops of the CM security were doing duty as the bodyguard of Prem Prakash. The SP (Security) disowned the two cops and replied that the matter was not concerned with the CM security and the security in charge thus maintaining a distance from the controversy.
But the ED has taken it as a mere alibi of the Jharkhand Police as both the constables, Mukesh Kumar and Shyamal Horo, during their questioning have accepted that they were deployed for the CM security.
Two AK 47 rifles were seized from the rented premise of Prem Prakash at Harmu Housing Colony in Ranchi on August 24 during the raid. As per the seizure report, both the weapons bearing registration No. KT-48-5633 and Butt no. RNC-210 and KP 51-4144 and Butt No. RNC-242 respectively along with 60 rounds were found.
The weapons were issued to constables Mukesh Kumar and Shyamal Horo. The ED claimed that they were deployed for the security of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. But they were doing duty for Prem Prakash on the instruction of a senior official.
Both the cops placed under suspension have told the ED that they have been made a scapegoat as they were obeying the orders of their seniors. The Ranchi police claimed that both the cops were returning from their duty along with their weapons when they were caught in the rain. The Ranchi police said that they were acquainted with an employee of Prem Prakash hence they kept their weapons there for safety. On the next day when they went to Prem Prakash’s house to collect their rifles, they found the ED team raiding the premises.
“The question remains unanswered how these cops were doing the duty of a private person instead of the CM of the state. The first summons was sent in October and the ED was told that the matter was not related to the CM security and the CM security in charge hence the CM (Security) Special Branch is not the right department to reply to this. But the investigation has established that these cops were actually deployed for the CM security. It is very important to know who ordered them to serve Prem Prakash. A sresh notice will be sent to get a complete fact,” well-placed sources.
The ED in the chargesheet has maintained that Prem Prakash was so influential that he was allotted the two cops out of the CM security unofficially which he used for the purpose of illegal activities.
