Harassment case: Probe role of cops, HC tells IG, CID
Taking a serious note on the issue of harassing the victim by the police personnel of the Nalagarh police station instead of taking action against the accused persons, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed Santosh Patial, Inspector General of Police, State CID, to hold an impartial inquiry into the role of each of the officer(s)/official(s) starting from the then Sub Divisional Police Officer downwards and submit his report to the court within a period of three weeks.
A division bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja passed this order on a petition filed by a victim alleging therein that she has made a complaint to the police station, Nalagarh against three persons alleging that they had attempted to rape her but instead of taking any action against them the police officials are harassing her on one pretext or the other.
She further alleged that the police officials come to her home every day and threaten to put her behind bars if she fails to change her statement. Not only this, the police personnel are visiting her parents’ house, and encourage them to negotiate with the accused.
Taking a serious note on this issue, the court sought details of the case from Superintendent of Police, Baddi district. After perusing the same the court observed that “the records reveal that probably a safe passage was given to the accused in this case to facilitate the safe exit of the accused and the evidence allowed to be destroyed or not collected, who surrendered only after the petitioner had moved an application in the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nalagarh, seeking police protection. The Magistrate vide its order dated May, 2, 2024 had directed the SHO, Police Station, Nalagarh to provide police protection to the victim, whereas, the accused came and surrendered in the Police Station on May 3, 2024.”
The court further observed, “In such circumstances, the role of each and every police officer(s)/official(s) of the Police Station, Nalagarh needs to be investigated impartially by a high-ranking officer.”
The court also directed the Superintendent of Police, Police District, Baddi to supply a list of the police officers/officials posted in Police District, Baddi to the Court, who have completed more than three years.
