J&K: Domestic help allegedly stripped, sexually assaulted in police station
Srinagar: A 28-year-old woman Seema Devi, working as a domestic help, was allegedly sexually assaulted by a police officer in a police station outside Jammu and Kashmir’s winter capital Jammu. He also allegedly shoved a beer bottle and chilli powder in her private parts.
Devi had been picked up by the police as she was a suspect in a jewellery theft case reported to the police by her employer, a resident of Domana area of Jammu, on April 30. She said that the moment she was brought to the Police Station Kanachak, she was forcibly stripped by a woman constable and later sexually assaulted by the Station House Officer. The officer has denied the charge but the police has started investigations following a formal complaint was lodged with it by the woman through her lawyer.
“We’ve ordered a probe by a SP level officer into the allegation of the woman,” said a police spokesman in Jammu. A Court in Jammu has directed Inspector General of Police to investigate the case. It said IGP (Jammu) should constitute a three-member probe team and submit the report in the court within 15 days. It also asked the IGP to ensure proper medical treatment for the woman.
Devi alleged that she was tortured for four days before she was sent to Women Police Station, Canal Road (Jammu) on May 3. Her husband and mother-in-law were also allegedly beaten up by the police.
"SHO Rajesh Sharma along with constable Rita Rani forcibly stripped her and inserted a beer bottle and chilli powder in her private parts. She was tortured for four days in Police Station (PS) Kanachak and sent to the women cell at Canal Road in Jammu city on May 3,” Advocate Vijay Kumar Attri who is pleading Devi’s case said. He accused the police of manipulating the medical report and of trying to save the accused.
Devi told a news portal, “I was working as maid when I got in contact with the wife of Parvez Pal, a resident of village Dhyaran in Domana area of Jammu city. She wanted me to work at her home as well. I agreed and went to her home. I worked with them for three months. But when I refused to work owing to my failing health his wife got angry. She does (illegal) abortions and wanted me to be part of her racket.”
She alleged that it was her refusal to be part of illegal activity which led to the family approaching the police with a complaint of theft of gold ornaments. “The police without even verifying the facts declared me offender the moment complaint was lodged with it. Torture and sexual abuse followed,” Devi said.
