Aagya Khabar
Barhathwa, Sarlahi

Sub-Inspector (SI) Baidyanath Das, the head of the Hirapur Area Police Office under Barhathwa Municipality in Sarlahi district, has been suspended after a recorded phone conversation between him and an alleged smuggler was made public.

In the leaked audio, SI Das can be clearly heard asking for NPR 18,000 in exchange for “assistance” in smuggling activities. Following the release of the recording, he was immediately relieved of his duties.

According to District Police Office Sarlahi spokesperson DSP Saroj Rai, Das has been summoned back to the Barhathwa Area Police Office, and further investigation into the audio incident has begun. He also mentioned that the process of appointing a new sub-inspector for Hirapur is underway.

Sources say that Das had previously faced suspension during his tenure in Parsa district as well, due to alleged involvement in irregular activities.

This incident has raised serious concerns about the police’s stance on organized crimes such as smuggling. Locals commented that the leak once again confirms longstanding suspicions of collusion between police and smugglers at the grassroots level.