The Purulia superintendent of police on Wednesday suspended the officer-in-charge of a police station following charges of him beating a 19-year-old tribal woman and misbehaving with her.

The OC of Kotshila police station Tufan Dan on Sunday had gone to inspect allegations that the teenager's father was selling spurious liquor at home.

A civic volunteer, who had accompanied the police officer, was terminated after similar charges against him.

OC Dan was first "closed" at the Purulia police lines on Tuesday night after the woman lodged a written complaint against him.

"We came to know about the incident on Tuesday and the ASP was sent to inquire into the matter. After primary inquiry, I closed the OC at the police lines. In the evening, we received a complaint from her and started a case against him. He was suspended," said SP Abhijit Banerjee.

Sources said that on Sunday night the OC and two civic volunteers had gone to Boronala village in Kotshila after a tip-off that the woman's father was selling spurious liquor at home. The OC found a container with 2 litres of country spirit, which the woman's father claimed was for personal consumption and not for sale. The OC allegedly misbehaved with the woman and beat her up.

The woman in her complaint alleged that the OC suddenly misbehaved and abused her. "He abused me for my class (ST) and taunted me for my dark complexion. He beat me up and threatened to ransack my hut," she told the media on Wednesday.

She alleged that on the OC's orders, the health centre refused to treat her on Monday.

Local BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato arranged her treatment on Tuesday. "What is happening in the state with a woman chief minister? A tribal woman was tortured by a police officer, who is supposed to protect her...." the MP said.

Sources said in the wake of the Sandeshkhali incident in North 24-Parganas, the administration did not want the Opposition to exploit the incident, hence the OC's speedy suspension.