Two cops charged with rape and harassment
A woman constable in Jamshedpur accused her senior of raping her in the police station on August 23, 2014, while a constable was beaten up by public in Ranchi for harassing a girl the same day.
Case 1: August 23, 2014: A woman constable in Jamshedpur accuses her senior of raping her in the police station.
Case 2: August 23, 2014: A constable was beaten up by public in Ranchi for harassing a girl.
The cases of rape and harassment of women are not new to the state but the above incidents rocked the state capital and put the police to shame on Saturday.
A woman constable in Jamshedpur lodged an FIR against Ram Narayan Chowdhary, Gamharia police station-in-charge and accused him of raping her in the police station.
The aggrieved Gamharia woman constable said, “I am a widow. I was given the job after my husband, a police man, died. Chowdhary always harassed me and on Friday raped me in the police station.”
In the aftermath of her complaint, the accused station in-charge was suspended and sent to police line on Sunday.
In another incident, a police constable Amit Singh was beaten up by people in Ranchi after he harassed a girl near a mall under Sukhdeonagar police station.
Also, the incidents substantiate the National Crime Record Bureau’s (NCRB) Crime in India report- 2013, released this July, reveals that every day in Jharkhand at least three women are raped.
Director general of police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar couldn’t be contacted for comments.
Talking to HT, police spokesperson Anurag Gupta, said, “The Gamharia incident is an isolated and individual act. Required action is being taken against the accused police officer.”
Superintendent of Police (SP) Madan Mohan Lal said, “We’ve ordered an investigation into the matter.”
A senior member of the Jharkhand Police Association Manki Banra said, “This is a big embarrassment for the police. It is sad that a constable and senior officer face cases of crime against women.” The NCRB reveals that against 812 rape cases in 2012 in 2013 it rose to 1204 cases, a sharp increase of around 48%.
While cases related to outrage of woman’s modesty, including sexual harassment increased by 84% in Jharkhand since 2012. “The police must take stringent action against the accused,” said chairperson State Women’s Commission Mahua Manjhi.
Archana Singh, a university student said, “If policewoman has no guarantee of safety how can we expect safeguard from men in uniform.” Crime against women has been on the rise in the state.
Apart from rape and harassment 2,084 women were beaten up by their husbands and relatives, in this crime category cases have rose by 65%, while dowry cases.