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Park View Residency women complain against SHOs, question case against protestors
The women alleged the police officers misbehaved with them during the protest on Friday and used derogatory language which outraged their modesty.
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Gurgaon: Two days after police booked 50 residents of Park View Residency in Palam Vihar on charge of blocking road without permission and obstructing the flow of traffic, three women residents have complained against the Bajghera and Palam Vihar station house officers to the sub-divisional magistrate.
They have alleged the SHOs misbehaved with them and used derogatory language which outraged their modesty. The incident took place when almost 200 people, including children, wore oxygen masks and protested against the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Friday—a day after Diwali.
The protest was to bring attention to a 1.5-km stretch of road—linking Sector 5 to Palam Vihar and Bijwasan—that has been under construction for nearly four years.
On Sunday evening, the women complained to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Bharat Bhushan Gogia against the police officers’ misbehaviour, threat and inappropriate action against women.
Gogia has assured to take up this matter with the commissioner of police.
“The residents had complained to me about the same (indecent behaviour) when I had visited the spot (on Friday). I had asked them to send a complaint to me; this I have forwarded to DCP (West) Sumit Kuhar and have asked him to take necessary action,” said Gogia.
“We have requested the SDM to lodge an FIR under appropriate sections of the IPC against both the SHOs and investigate the matter. We have all the pieces of evidence, eyewitnesses and video footages,” said Vandana Kohli, another complainant.
Complainants said they were protesting peacefully on Friday around 5:30 pm to draw the authority’s attention towards pathetic condition of Caterpuri Road and Palam Vihar, the high level of air pollution, illegal construction and traffic issues.
“Our concern over illegal construction, traffic and pollution were brought to the notice of local police and other relevant authorities, however, there was no response. On the contrary, the local SHO threatened us that an FIR and a case would be lodged against us,” said Sarita Singal, one of the three women complainants who is among the 50 protestors to be booked.
Residents said while they were protesting peacefully, the station house officers of Palam Vihar and Bajghera police stations started misbehaving with ladies and used indecent language.
The residents of the area said they are shocked at police complaint filed against them. The resident welfare association (RWA) members have said that if the case is not withdrawn they will again hold a protest again.
“Many elderly residents and children have paid with their lives for the dense dust caused by the delayed road construction; many have been hospitalized and are being treated. We had written to the authorities, but no action was taken due to which we had to come on roads,” said Parul, a resident.
Meanwhile, Bajghera SHO inspector Deepak Kumar has refuted the allegations and said he rushed to the spot because the traffic was getting affected and he was just doing his duty.
“I had requested them to not protest on the road, but never used any inappropriate words. The entire incident is recorded and seniors can investigate. This is merely an allegation, we have performed our duty,” he said.
Palam Vihar SHO Vikram Nehra also refuted the allegations as baseless.
