Sexual Harassment by Police: -

We received information that the victim Ms. Sampa Dutta, Kolkata filed one criminal case vide Entally Police Station Case no. 31/2009 dated 21.1.2009 under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of Indian Penal Code against a police constable of the same police station for committing sexual abuse and harassment upon her in a running bus. The Investigation Officer is still to complete the investigation in the said criminal case though several months already elapsed since the incident. 

The victim-woman has been put under continuous threats to withdraw the complaint against the said police constable.  The victim diarized the incident of threat in the concerned police station with hope to get adequate protection but in vain. 

In a recent development the Assistant Commissioner of Police (A), Eastern Suburban Division, Kolkata through a written communication dated 4/6/2009 asked her to attend his office on 10.6.2009 in a proceeding drawn up against Mr. Dharanidhar Pati, the perpetrator- police constable. The victim did not attend his office but again she has been served with another notice dated 11.6.2009 requiring her to attend his office on 19.6.2009.

The said Assistant Commissioner of Police being a police officer himself acted in utter violation of Section 160 of Criminal Procedure Code which prohibits the police from requiring the attendance of any woman or male person below the age of fifteen years to any other place except the place where he or she resides. 

Hence requiring the victim to attend at the office of a police officer is nothing but an approach to harass her in the name of inquiry with a view that she would ultimately loose all hope of getting justice and shall succumb to unnecessary harassment. Our attached fact finding report gives details of the incident.