Patna, Aug 11 (IANS) Three police personnel have faced disciplinary action after a truck loaded with stone chips went missing from the Mufassil police station in Bihar’s Munger district on Tuesday, police said.
The action follows an inquiry that reportedly found serious negligence in the handling and reporting of the seized vehicle.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Imran Masood, Police Training Centre Dhananjay Kumar and Station Munshi (clerk) Arvind Kumar have been suspended with immediate effect based on an investigation report submitted by Headquarters Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Arun Kumar Gupta.
A recommendation has also been sent to the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the suspension of Mufassil Station House Officer (SHO) Vipin Kumar Singh, an Inspector.
Separately, the SP has recommended that the District Magistrate initiate action against the then-Mining Inspector, Md. Arman.
Following the action, Rajesh Kumar has been appointed as the new SHO of the Mufassil police station.
He has been directed to assume charge within 24 hours and submit a compliance report to police headquarters.
The investigation relates to a truck bearing registration number BR10GD 5005, which was allegedly seized by Mining Inspector Md. Arman on July 3, 2026, after it was found carrying stone chips without a valid challan.
The vehicle was subsequently handed over to the Mufassil police station.
A fine of around Rs 11.18 lakh was imposed in connection with the vehicle.
According to the investigation, PTC Dhananjay Kumar failed to inform the SHO about the seizure list and receipt details relating to the truck.
Arvind Kumar, who was serving as the station Munshi on the morning of July 3, also allegedly failed to bring the matter to the SHO’s attention.
The inquiry further found that despite the truck subsequently going missing from the police station premises, the SHO did not treat the matter with the required seriousness or inform senior officers about the situation.
The disappearance came to light on July 10, when Mining Inspector Md. Arman reportedly returned to the police station after seizing another vehicle and discovered that the truck seized on July 3 was no longer there.
The SP said the investigation also revealed negligence on the part of the then-Mining Inspector.
Despite learning that the truck had gone missing, Arman allegedly failed to inform senior officials about the matter.
Police are currently searching for the missing truck, and the SP said efforts are underway to recover it soon.
Following the incident, senior police officials, including the SP and the Sadar SDPO, questioned the Mufassil SHO about the missing vehicle.
The SHO initially maintained that the Mining Inspector had not submitted the seizure list at the police station and had simply left the truck parked outside without obtaining an acknowledgement of receipt.
However, after evidence of the seizure list and acknowledgement receipt was presented, the SHO reportedly told the SP that a PTC posted at the station had received the documents but had failed to inform him.
The investigation subsequently examined the roles of the SHO, PTC, station Munshi and Mining Inspector in the matter.
There have been allegations that the truck owner may have colluded with police station personnel to remove the vehicle in an attempt to avoid the substantial fine imposed on it.
However, these allegations have not yet been established by the investigation.
–IANS
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