Agartala, May 27:
In yet another disturbing reflection of declining social values, a school teacher accused of circulating fake Indian currency notes and possessing narcotic tablets was arrested in Tripura’s Khowai district on Wednesday, triggering shock across the local education fraternity.
The incident occurred in Khowai just two days after four police officials including an inspector and a women sub-inspector were suspended and arrested after preliminary investigation suggested that they were involved with dishonest removal of large number of seized codeine-based cough syrup bottles from a seized consignment at Teliamura Police Station.
The accused teacher, identified as Kartik Debnath (40), is a resident of West Sonatala under Khowai police station limits and posted in the Garobari Senior Basic school in the same district.
According to police, acting on secret information, personnel of Kalyanpur police station conducted a raid at the weekly market in Bagan Bazar under Kalyanpur police station area on Wednesday morning. The accused was detained from the market on suspicion of circulating fake Indian currency notes.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Khowai district Justin Joseph said police initially recovered fake currency notes from his possession during the raid.
“Following preliminary interrogation, based on the information gathered, his house under the police station area was identified and raided,” the officer said.
During the subsequent search operation at his residence, police recovered more fake Indian currency notes and 55 narcotic tablets. Altogether, fake notes worth Rs 22,600 were seized during the operation.
Police have registered a specific case at Kalyanpur police station and further investigation is underway to ascertain whether others are linked to the racket.
The arrest of a teacher in connection with fake currency circulation and narcotics has sparked widespread discussion and concern in Khowai district.
