15 police personnel suspended, 3 arrested after woman allegedly raped inside Jharkhand police station

Jamshedpur: Fifteen police personnel have been suspended following the alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman inside Gamharia police station in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district. Three policemen have been arrested in connection with the case, with the investigation continuing.

Seraikela-Kharsawan Superintendent of Police Manoj Swargiary ordered the suspension of nine more personnel on Sunday, taking the total number suspended to 15. The latest action was taken on charges of dereliction of duty and negligence.

Those suspended on Sunday include two sub-inspectors, four assistant sub-inspectors, two havildars and a constable. The action followed the suspension of five personnel, including Gamharia police station in-charge Sanjay Prasad, on Saturday.
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Three policemen arrested in connection with the case

The accused policeman, Neeraj Lakra, a wireless operator posted at Gamharia police station, was arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Two other personnel suspended on Saturday- Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar Sahu and Constable Santosh Kumar Rai- were also arrested on Sunday following the investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Seraikela SDPO Anubhav Bhardwaj. They are being sent to judicial custody.

The SIT is investigating the case, while further aspects of the incident remain under probe.
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Woman brought to police station after seeking help

According to the details cited by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, the woman left home on October 29 following an argument with her husband over a domestic issue. Fearing that she might be assaulted if she returned home at night, she went to a neighbour and sought help in filing a complaint against her husband for alleged torture.

A police control room (PCR) van subsequently brought her to Gamharia police station at around midnight. Police personnel on duty reportedly provided her with a room to rest, where Lakra allegedly raped her.

Soren said the woman had approached the police seeking protection but was assaulted inside the police station. He also alleged that she had been brought to the station without the presence of any female police personnel, in violation of rules.

Champai Soren calls incident a 'repulsive image of jungle raj'

Reacting to the incident, Soren described it as the "most repulsive image of jungle raj in the state" in a social media post on Sunday.

He questioned how women could feel safe approaching police stations if an assault could take place inside one. He had also demanded the dismissal of police personnel found responsible and strict action against senior officials by fixing accountability.

Soren said the incident could damage public confidence in the police administration, particularly among women seeking help.

SP Manoj Swargiary said the investigation was underway and warned that stringent action would be taken against personnel found involved in the crime or negligent in handling the case.

(With agency inputs)