The Punjab Mahila Congress on Thursday demanded a judicial probe into the case in which a Bundala village woman had accused a Punjab Police assistant sub-inspector of trying to outrage her modesty on the night of April 17.
The demand for the probe was made by Mahila Congress vice-president Nimisha Mehta, citing police inaction despite a written complaint to the Amritsar rural police in whose jurisdiction the alleged crime took place.
The complaint was submitted by the woman the following day to Jandiala police station incharge inspector Hardeep Singh and an inquiry was immediately instituted in the matter to ascertain the facts.
"A week has passed and no action has been taken so far against the ASI responsible for this shameless act. We demand a judicial inquiry into the whole case as we have no faith in the state government and its police force," Mehta told media here.
The victim, who was also present on the occasion, said that she was on way to Jandiala police station to give some medicines to her husband when ASI Gurnam Singh stopped her at a 'naka' and misbehaved with her and even tore off her shirt. Her husband was in the police lock-up at Jandiala.
Mehta pointed out that initially the police even refused to entertain the complaint and even spoke of a compromise. However, they accepted the complaint and promised an inquiry after pressure from the residents of Bandala and the Mahila Congress, Mehta added.
{{/usCountry}}Mehta pointed out that initially the police even refused to entertain the complaint and even spoke of a compromise. However, they accepted the complaint and promised an inquiry after pressure from the residents of Bandala and the Mahila Congress, Mehta added.
{{/usCountry}}She said that a written complaint had been sent to the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Human Rights. She claimed that the matter was not brought before the Punjab Women's Commission as it is a "defunct body that works on the orders of the chief minister".
"No member of the Punjab Women's Commission has even visited Usma village, the native village of the Dalit girl who was thrashed in public by Tarn Taran police. In fact, the state commission has not even inquired a single incident involving atrocities on women. It seems to only take up complaints of women's harassment at workplaces," she remarked.
SSP speak
Amritsar (rural) SSP Manmohan Singh said, "We were never averse to an inquiry and have already recorded the statements of some persons. However, neither the victim nor any other person from the village has come forward to substantiate and corroborate the charge."