Top cop Rajeev Kumar pays homage to Vinod Mehta

Kolkata: Rajeev Kumar, Commissioner of Police, paid homage to Vinod Mehta on the day when he was killed 34 years ago.

The gruesome murder of the then 35-year-old Deputy Commissioner of Police of Port Division, had left a deep mark on the rank and file. His bodyguard, constable Mokhtar Ali, was also killed. The incident took place on March 18 in 1984.

Mehta, along with Ali, had entered a narrow lane in Garden Reach area, where he was repeatedly stabbed to death. He was known for his daring attitude and his tough stand against all sorts of illegal activities in the port area.

On Sunday, the Commissioner of Police placed a wreath at the bust of Mehta and Ali at the premises of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Port). Mehta's wife, Veena Mehta and family members of Ali were also present in the event. The rank and file of Kolkata Police also paid their respects to Mehta.

It may be recalled that the police had initiated a crackdown and had arrested 40 people in this connection. After interrogating them, the police had come to know about Idris Ali as the prime accused of the murder.

Idris was arrested. He died in police custody in a lockup, at the city police's headquarters at Lalbazar.

It may be recalled that another incident of a policeman being killed in the port area had taken place in 2013, when SI Tapas Chowdhury was shot dead in broad daylight.