The police promptly framed very strong charges against them

Of late, the illegal liquor selling business has increased in the district of West Bengal by leaps and bounds. Some unfortunate people have died consuming hooch. But more importantly, addiction to hooch has caused various social and family problems. Violence against women in the family has increased phenomenally due to this addiction.

The district police has turned a completely blind eye. Evidently, political leaders and police have been pocketing huge amount from this illegal liquor business.

But some people have been trying to resist this dangerous business. One such lady tried to take up the issue with the local police and politicians, but she failed to get anything positive from them. Ultimately, she contacted the local correspondent of a very well-known newspaper.

The correspondent and the activist lady published two detailed investigative news-reports on illegal hooch trade in an important location of the district. People of the entire state came to know about the problem.

Now, the district police also became very active. The local police authorities promptly framed very serious charges under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354B (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe), 509 (uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC and under non-bailable provisions of the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

No, these charges have not been framed against the hooch-traders. These charges have been framed against, hold your breath, against the activist lady and the journalist on the basis of a apparently cooked-up complaint against them. The complaint was lodged on the day the second report was published. Framing of charges was completed on the same day itself.

On the basis of these charges, the lady and the journalist are now behind the bars.

Beware of police in West Bengal! If you go deep to investigate any criminal activity, they will promptly frame strong charges against you.

[Competition entry: October 2023 Topic-based contest - Frame]