For harassing a 19-year-old woman who had approached the police with a rape complaint, two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) of Rauni police post in Khanna have been arrested and placed under suspension.
The accused, identified as Rauni police post in-charge Balbir Singh and ASI Harmeet Singh, were allegedly dilly-dallying on registration of the FIR and also harassing the victim by repeatedly calling her to the police post and asking her inappropriate questions.
The woman said that on July 31, she had lodged a rape complaint against her boyfriend for raping her on the pretext of marriage. The complaint was marked to ASI Balvir Singh, who instead of registering the FIR, used to repeatedly summon her to the police post on the pretext of investigating her complaint.
The woman said that on August 6, the accused took her to the kitchen of the police post and sexually harassed her.
She said that later she reached a compromise with her friend and wished to withdraw the complaint, but the police personnel kept harassing her and forced her to go to the police post.
Tired of the repeated humiliation and harassment, the woman brought the matter to the notice of senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amneet Kondal on Friday who immediately ordered an FIR against the two errant cops and suspended them with immediate effect.
{{/usCountry}}Tired of the repeated humiliation and harassment, the woman brought the matter to the notice of senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amneet Kondal on Friday who immediately ordered an FIR against the two errant cops and suspended them with immediate effect.
{{/usCountry}}Soon after lodging the FIR, the Payal police of Khanna arrested the accused.
Inspector Davinderpal Singh, SHO at Payal police station, said that an FIR under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 166 A (non-recording of information), 294 (obscene acts and songs), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused.
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When contacted, Advocate Parupkar Singh Ghumman, former president of the district bar association, said while sexual assault cases can be assigned to male officers but it is mandatory that a woman police official of any rank accompany him in the investigation. The woman cop should be present during recording of the victim’s statement and conduct of the medical examination.