Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations that a tribal woman was assaulted, tortured and subjected to sexual misconduct by police personnel in Latehar district.
Taking cognisance of the matter after it was brought to his attention through a post on X, the Chief Minister directed Latehar Superintendent of Police to investigate the allegations, take appropriate action and submit a report. Soren said such a situation was unacceptable.
The alleged incident took place in the jurisdiction of Bariyatu police station. According to the woman and local villagers, Punia Devi had taken her goats out to graze on the afternoon of October 5 when she became involved in an altercation with police personnel who were allegedly in plain clothes.
The complaint alleges that Bariyatu police station in-charge Prabhat Kumar Das and three other personnel subsequently took her with them. The woman claimed that she was assaulted on the way, verbally abused and subjected to casteist slurs.
Villagers further alleged that she was tortured inside the police station, where she was purportedly tied by her hands, hung upside down and beaten with sticks. The woman also levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against the personnel involved.
According to the complaint, the police accused her of cultivating poppy and allegedly took away Rs 80,000 kept at her home for a wedding. She was reportedly released from the police station the following night.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
Following the incident, villagers approached the office of the Latehar Superintendent of Police and submitted a written complaint demanding action against the accused personnel.
The district police administration has constituted an inquiry team headed by the Balumath Sub-Divisional Police Officer, with a woman police officer also included in the team.
Local tribal organisations have demanded the suspension of the accused personnel and registration of an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The investigation is underway, and further action is expected after the allegations are examined by the authorities.
–IANS