Shillong, October 1: Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) General Secretary Rueben Najiar has ruled out filing a First Information Report (FIR) over the alleged illegal collection of money by police personnel, questioning the rationale of approaching the police when its own personnel stand accused of wrongdoing.

“There is no point asking one thief to arrest another,” Najiar said while returning to surrender before the District and Sessions Court in Shillong following the expiry of his 14-day interim bail, which had been granted after the death of his father.

Referring to the findings brought forward by the union, Najiar questioned the purpose of lodging a police complaint over the alleged collections, arguing that accountability must be established when those accused of wrongdoing belong to the police department itself.

He also criticised the police response to the disturbances during the KSU rally on August 19, alleging that authorities had acted swiftly in arresting union leaders despite the union maintaining that they had not instigated the unrest.

Najiar said the leaders had nevertheless shouldered responsibility in connection with the incident.

Questioning accountability over the latest allegations, he asked who would take responsibility for the alleged corruption involving police personnel and whether the Superintendent of Police would accept accountability, given that the alleged activities took place under his supervision.

The allegations have raised questions about police accountability and the need for an impartial inquiry into the alleged illegal collections.