BELAGAVI
Some police officials in Belagavi could find themselves in trouble, after the new police commissioner has ordered a fresh inquiry into allegations that some policemen had assaulted women allegedly involved in flesh trade.
The incident had occurred in Belagavi a couple of months ago when a team of police officials led by an ACP allegedly assaulted five women at Khade Bazaar and were mercilessly dragged to the Khade Bazaar police station.
Despite complaints from the assaulted women wielding public support, the police team, who indulged in the act, managed to go scot-free.
However, the case has now taken a fresh twist, as new Police Commissioner Soumendu Mukherjee, who has recently taken charge, has ordered a fresh inquiry into the incident and is awaiting a report to initiate action against his officials.
Immediately after the incident, an inspector and three constables were suspended on charges of brutally beating the women, but subsequently reinstated by the department within 48 hours of an FIR filed against them.
Several organisations had revolted and questioned the reinstatement of the police officials, even as videos of their assault on women had gone viral on social media.
After the public assault, the women were reportedly beaten again in the station by the same officials. The police assaulted the five women after suspecting them to be sex workers.
Speaking to mediapersons, Police Commissioner Mukherjee informed that he has sought video clippings from news channels which aired the report after the incident to seek more details about the case.
“Once we get the clippings, we will check its authenticity and then get an investigation done into it. None of the police officials will be spared if they are found assaulting innocent people,” he said.
A senior DCP has been asked by the commissioner to obtain all details of the case and conduct a probe as to why the police officials did not face any action even after a case was filed against them. The commissioner said the women victims met him demanding action against the errant officials.
The victims have sought action against an ACP, PI and three constables against whom an FIR was lodged in the same police station.
According to sources, the department is not supposed to post the police officials at the same station, where an FIR is filed against them.
