Cop accused of molesting victim of harassment
DHANBAD: Two days after a police officer allegedly made sexual advances towards a 13-year-old victim of sexual harassment during investigation at her house in Dhanbad district, girl’s parents on Thursday lodged a complaint with the superintendent of police (rural) — a charge the accused police officer rubbished as baseless and said he was doing his duty and his intention was only to collect accurate information about the incident.
On August 7, victim’s parents had lodged an eve-teasing complaint with Angarpathara police against one area resident and neighbor Niraj Sinha after he didn’t stop teasing the minor girl despite their repeated warnings.
It all happened on Tuesday late evening when city’s Angarpathara outpost police officer Vijay Singh reached victim’s house to inquire into the eve-teasing complaint she had filed. During investigation, Singh allegedly took the minor girl to a separate room of her house and made sexual advances towards her.
Sensing Singh’s ill-intention, parents raised an objection but the officer told them not to intervene during the investigation. “I was quite shocked as a policeman was misbehaving with my daughter at my house in front of me and we were mute spectators,” said girl’s mother, adding that all was happening in the name of investigation.
“It’s not the way of investigation as the officer was using a filthy language while talking to her and he repeatedly attempted to touch her private parts. I have lodged a complaint with district’s senior police officers as I want justice for my daughter,” added the mother.
Singh, however, said he had gone there to investigate the matter only and denied that he had ever used filthy words or touched the girl’s private parts.
SP (rural) HP Janardanan said that he was aware of the incident. “On the basis of parents’ complaint, Baghmara area deputy superintendent of police has been asked to investigate the matter and submit the report. Appropriate action would be taken against the police officer if we find the allegations correct,” he added.