Four Home Guards dismissed for forcibly taking away fruits without paying

Four Homeguards were dismissed on Wednesday on disciplinary grounds for unauthorisedly entering a fruit shop and forcibly taking away fruits without paying for it late at night on July 14, a top police official said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Palanisamy, who investigated the complaint by the shop owner and examined CCTV footage, issued the dismissal orders. 

He also ordered transfer of Special Sub Inspector (SSI) Deivendran to the Armed Police wing for reportedly allowing the four to indulge in the act. 

The DSP said the SSI and Home Guards had ordered a shop employee to stop his vehicle for inspection during a routine check at around midnight on July 14 and when he did not do so, followed him to the shop and forcibly took away some fruits after eating some of them. 

Rejecting their arguments that they were hungry, the DSP said the department provided them with snacks and beverages, besides an allowance of Rs 150 per day. It was a mistake on their part to take fruits without paying money.