A sub-inspector of Haridevpur police station on the city’s soutehrn fringes has been suspended for alleged misbehaviour and inappropriate use of words and action, following a complaint from a woman whose case the officer had been investigating, police said.
A senior officer of Kolkata police’s south-west division said the sub-inspector, Ainul Haque, was suspended on Wednesday for alleged inappropriate behaviour with a woman complainant. Haque could not be contacted for his reaction.
“We received a complaint through the helpline 100 on Tuesday and learned that an officer of Haridevpur police station has allegedly misbehaved with a woman complainant, who went to the police station to lodge a complaint of torture against her husband,” said the officer.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, Haridevpur police station started an inquiry and found that a sub-inspector with the name mentioned by the woman over the phone was probing a case of torture lodged by her, the officer said.
“Once the charge was established prima facie, the officer was immediately suspended and a departmental inquiry has been initiated,” the senior officer said. “We have been trying to sensitise the force on how to behave with people in distress when they visit a police station. If an officer makes personal contact with or harasses a woman complainant, it is unpardonable. Such offences will be dealt with severely,” said an officer of the rank of joint commissioner.
At least 11 police personnel have been arrested in the last five months in Kolkata for their alleged involvement in extortion, kidnapping, robbery and cheating.