Nipjyoti Kalita || Naharlagun, July 12: A former Superintendent of Police (SP) in an Arunachal Pradesh district is facing serious allegations of sexual harassment made by a woman police constable who worked under him. Prompt action has been taken with the formation of a local complaint committee (LCC) to probe into the matter and ensure justice.
The incident came to light after the courageous constable lodged a complaint with the internal complaints committee (ICC) at her workplace on June 24. According to her account, she received an initial message from the former SP’s personal number in late May, which she disregarded, assuming it was an accidental communication. However, the situation escalated on the night of June 23 when she allegedly received explicit messages and a voice call on WhatsApp, both of which she chose not to engage with.
Expressing her distress, the constable highlighted the irony of a law enforcement officer, tasked with safeguarding the workplace and ensuring the safety of women, being accused of and encouraging such heinous acts against his own female staff.
It is noteworthy that the accused SP had already been transferred to New Delhi before the complaint was lodged, as per an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 8. The constable provided WhatsApp screenshots as evidence, capturing messages sent by the accused from 11:14 pm onwards on June 23, requesting her presence at his residence the following day under the guise of needing her assistance.
Following the gravity of the allegations made against the employer, the ICC promptly convened a meeting and decided to transfer the case to the LCC. This decision was made to ensure further necessary action and justice for the victim, given that the Superintendent of Police holds the authority to appoint constables.