TIRUCHY: DIG (Thanjavur Range) on Friday (August 21) suspended three police personnel, including an inspector, on charges of releasing seized 83 kgs of banned gutka and the two smugglers.

On August 10, a police team headed by Thanjavur West Inspector Shanmugam (45) conducted a vehicle check at Ammapettai. On suspicion, they intercepted two persons who were identified as Arumugam (45) and Murugan (48), both from Ammapettai.

The police found that they were smuggling 83 kgs of banned gutka. Subsequently, Inspector Shanmugam, along with policemen Gowthaman (35) and Alagarsamy (37), secured the duo, seized the gutka stock and took them to the police station.

After reaching the police station, Shanmugam failed to register a case and released Arumugam and Murugan along with the gutka bundles. After being informed, SP E Sundaravathanam ordered a departmental inquiry in which the complaint was proved.

On August 11, the Thanjavur West police registered a case and arrested the duo. Meanwhile, the inspector was placed on the ‘waiting list’ from August 13.

On Friday, based on the recommendation of the SP, the DIG (Thanjavur Range) Ziaul Haque suspended Shanmugam and the policemen Gowthaman and Alagarsamy.