Kolkata Police suspend 2 officers, remove civic volunteer in South 24 Parganas extortion case
Synopsis
Three Kolkata Police personnel — including a sergeant and a constable — have been suspended or demobilised after an inquiry found they allegedly stopped goods vehicles in South 24 Parganas and forcibly collected money from drivers. A full departmental investigation is now under way to determine how long the alleged extortion continued and whether others were involved.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police suspended Sergeant Nurul Islam Mollah and Constable Shivanand Thakur over extortion allegations on 29 August .
Civic Volunteer Ali Hasan Mollah was removed from duty and demobilised.
The alleged extortion involved forcibly stopping goods vehicles in the Ghatakpukur Chowmatha area of South 24 Parganas .
The Bhangar Traffic Police Guard initiated the inquiry after receiving public complaints.
A departmental investigation is under way to determine the duration of the alleged misconduct and whether additional personnel were involved.
Kolkata Police have suspended two personnel and demobilised a civic volunteer following allegations of extorting money from goods vehicle drivers in the Ghatakpukur Chowmatha area of South 24 Parganas district, officials confirmed on Saturday, 29 August. The action came after the Bhangar Traffic Police Guard received complaints and conducted an initial inquiry into the conduct of officers on duty in the area.
Who Was Suspended and Why
The inquiry identified three individuals: Sergeant Nurul Islam Mollah, Constable Shivanand Thakur, and Civic Volunteer Ali Hasan Mollah. According to police sources, the three were allegedly stopping goods vehicles and forcibly collecting money from drivers. Sergeant Nurul Islam Mollah and Constable Shivanand Thakur have been placed under suspension, while Civic Volunteer Ali Hasan Mollah was removed from duty and demobilised.
A senior police officer confirmed the action, stating: 'They have been suspended for now. A departmental investigation will be conducted.'
Scope of the Departmental Probe
Administrative action marks only the first step. A full departmental investigation has been initiated against all three individuals. Investigators are examining the nature and duration of the alleged extortion, whether other personnel were involved, and whether drivers who refused to pay faced harassment. The probe is expected to determine the full extent of the alleged misconduct on what are described as important goods-vehicle routes.
Kolkata Police's Broader Warning
In addition to the suspensions, Kolkata Police issued a clear warning that any irregularities or illegal money collection by personnel while on duty would be dealt with strictly. This comes amid recurring concerns about extortion at checkpoints on freight corridors in and around Kolkata. Officials indicated that further action would follow once the departmental inquiry concludes.
The case underscores the pressure on urban police forces to maintain accountability at the constabulary level, where direct public contact — and the potential for petty corruption — is highest. Further developments are expected after the departmental investigation is completed.
Point of View
At minimum, managing optics on a case that touches a chronic pressure point: extortion at freight checkpoints. But the more revealing test will be the departmental inquiry — specifically whether it traces how long the alleged collections ran and who else may have known. Petty extortion on goods-vehicle routes rarely involves only the three names that surface first. If the probe stops at the constabulary level without examining supervisory accountability, the action risks being administrative theatre rather than genuine reform.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the Kolkata Police officers suspended?
Sergeant Nurul Islam Mollah and Constable Shivanand Thakur were suspended after an inquiry found they were allegedly stopping goods vehicles in the Ghatakpukur Chowmatha area of South 24 Parganas and forcibly collecting money from drivers. The Bhangar Traffic Police Guard initiated the probe following public complaints.
What action was taken against the civic volunteer?
Civic Volunteer Ali Hasan Mollah was removed from duty and demobilised — a step equivalent to termination for contractual civic volunteers — after his name emerged during the initial inquiry into the extortion allegations.
What will the departmental investigation examine?
The probe will look into the nature of the allegations, how long the alleged extortion had been occurring, whether drivers who refused to pay were harassed, and whether any other personnel were involved beyond the three already identified.
Where did the alleged extortion take place?
The incidents reportedly occurred in the Ghatakpukur Chowmatha area within South 24 Parganas district, on routes described by police as important corridors for goods vehicles.
What happens next in the case?
A departmental investigation is ongoing against all three individuals. Kolkata Police have stated that further action will follow once the inquiry is completed, and have warned that any illegal money collection by personnel on duty will be dealt with strictly.
