The image of Maharashtra police was again dented when a middle-aged constable raped a 28-year-old divorcee at Sati Asola village in Akola district, some 300 km from Nagpur on Thursday.
The incident sparked off tension in the village, according to reports.
The victim, a mother of two, had lodged a complaint of harassment by her ex-husband with the local police.
The police constable, Niranjan Khandare, 51, in charge of the beat, was investigating the matter. In the pretext of investigation, he went to the village on Thursday evening. The woman was alone in her house that time. While making a nasty proposal, Niranjan said that he would bail her out from the harassment of her ex-husband if she fulfills his desire. However, the woman resisted. This enraged the constable, who beat her up and raped her there.
Later, the woman raised an alarm and villagers soon assembled, catching the constable red-handed. Irate villagers tore the uniform of the constable and thrashed him. They also took out a procession in the village of the rapist.
However, the village elders intervened into the matter to calm the situation. They decided to hand over the half-naked police constable to the nearest Patur police station.
{{/usCountry}}However, the village elders intervened into the matter to calm the situation. They decided to hand over the half-naked police constable to the nearest Patur police station.
{{/usCountry}}Talking to the Hindustan Times, Shantaram Waghmare, the district superintendent of police, informed that the police constable was suspended from duty on Friday. He was also booked under sections of 376, 354 and 324 of the IPC.
Email Pradip Kumar Maitra: pradipmaitra@hindustantimes.com