Panel formed to probe harassment, SI suspended

Kolkata: An inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the incident of former Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta who was harassed by a group of youths.

Sengupta was allegedly harassed by some youths late on Monday night while she was on her way home with one of her colleagues in a cab.

She alleged that when she went to Maidan police station to sought help, the on-duty police officer told her to go to Bhowanipur police station as the place of incident falls under its jurisdiction. Sengupta said the cab driver was beaten up by the youths in front of the Maidan police station at Exide Crossing. When she went to Maidan police station and requested for help, the on-duty reportedly stated that he cannot go with her as the spot was not under his police station's jurisdiction.

When she urged the officers to help her they went to the spot and asked the boys why they were creating nuisance. When the cops questioned the boys, they allegedly pushed the police officers and fled. After the incident, she thought that the trouble was over so she continued with the ride in the cab. However, she failed to notice that the group of youths was still following their cab. Near her colleague's home, which is also close to Sengupta's house, the youths allegedly surrounded the cab and pelted stones on the cab. They also tried to drag Sengupta out to snatch her mobile phone as she had video-recorded incident at Exide Crossing. When Sengupta shouted for help, some local residents arrived to help her. Seeing the locals, the youths fled the spot. Following the incident late on Monday night, Sengupta along with the cab driver went to Charu Market police station to lodge a complaint against the accused youths as the place where the youths surrounded the cab fell under the its jurisdiction.

But, it is alleged that the on-duty Sub-Inspector at Charu market Police station told her to file the complaint at the Bhowanipur police station as he claimed the incident spot fell in their jurisdiction. She also alleged that there were no female police personnel at the police station at that time. Hearing the Sub-Inspector's statement Sengupta countered and raised some questions and after a while police accepted the complaint.

According to the lawyers, the law permits a person to lodge a complaint in any police station across the state irrespective of place of occurrence. After she posted the whole incident on social media, senior officials from Kolkata Police contacted Sengupta.

Later on Wednesday, an inquiry committee was set up, which is being led by the Deputy Commissioner of South Division Miraz Khalid. In the evening, the Sub-Inspector of Charu Market police station Pijush Bal was suspended, the Assistant SI of Maidan police station and Sub-Inspector of Bhowanipur police station were show-caused.