Row over Alleged Disrobing by Police of BJP Woman Worker in Hubballi, Police Denied
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 7: A controversy has erupted in Congress-ruled Karnataka following allegations that the police disrobed a BJP woman functionary while arresting her in connection with an attack on government officials, a charge the police rejected.
The police on the contrary claimed that she removed her clothes herself and also attacked police personnel, causing them bite injuries. A video of the woman being partially without her clothes has gone viral, sparking the row.
The alleged incident took place in Keshwapur Police Station limits when police went to arrest the woman based on complaints of local residents in connection with a clash that reportedly took place during the mapping for Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls on January 1.
The BJP has alleged that its worker was assaulted, and her clothes were torn while she was being arrested by the police in Hubballi. A video has surfaced that showed the worker being surrounded by the male and female police personnel on a bus. The party alleged that she was assaulted and her clothes were torn after she resisted and raised objections.
Hubballi police commissioner Shashikumar, however, rejected the charge, saying the woman took her clothes off and attacked the police personnel. “For a survey, the concerned competent authorities had gone to the Chalukya Nagar, and in the process of getting information for the survey, there was some difference among the locals. There was an argument followed by abuse and assault,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“On the basis of that, three separate cases were registered, and on January 5, a lady was taken into custody on Wednesday. She was arrested in an attempted murder case filed by a local. In that case, while she was being arrested, there was a lot of resistance from her and also from people who are connected with her.
Mr Shashikumar clarified that the woman constables had not disrobed the woman during the arrest. He stated that the woman, Sujata alias Vinayalaxmi Handi, had attacked the woman constables and had removed her clothes on her own after getting into the police van. In response, the woman constables, with the help of localites, brought clothes to cover her, he said.
In the process, she bit one of our sub-inspectors. Three to four of her staff were also assaulted and were obstructed from performing their duties,” he said. Kumar also said the woman took her clothes off while she was being taken to the police vehicle. “It was our police staff, particularly women staff, who brought her clothes, taking assistance from the local people, and made her wear that,” he added. He said she has about nine cases against her, five of which were filed last year. “The news that the police misbehaved with her is completely incorrect,” Kumar said.
Taking exception to the incident, BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai has accused the police of acting inhumanly at the behest of Congress councillor Suvarna Kallakuntla. He has demanded immediate suspension of all the police officers responsible before initiating an inquiry into the incident.
According to sources, there was some encroachment of a government land. To clear it, revenue officials had gone there with policemen and they were attacked by the alleged illegal occupants.
A case was registered in this connection and the woman was a key accused. When a police team went to pick her up, she resisted the arrest, they claimed. The police team overpowered her and bundled her inside the police vehicle. Videos of the woman emerged showing her topless. She alleged the police team disrobed her.
Refuting the charge, Shashikumar explained the chronology of the events to reporters. He said in Chalukya Nagar area of Keshwapur in Hubballi, when government officers went for the land survey, people picked up a quarrel with them and attacked them. In this connection, three separate cases were registered and the police. In one of the cases, the investigating officer decided to arrest one of the women involved in the offence.
While effecting the arrest, the Investigating Officer had shown utmost restraint and precaution. He had taken about 8-10 women officers and staff, knowing very well that there is a possibility of some “nuisance” happening, Shashikumar said.
“In spite of that, when she was taken inside the police vehicle, she unclothed herself. Our women officers and staff who were present on the spot took the assistance of local people and got another dress for her,” the officer said. He added that the police repeatedly requested her to wear clothes.
“So the accusation against the police is absolutely false, and it is with all bad intentions. I have verified the sequence of events,” Shashikumar said. He said he had still asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police to conduct a thorough inquiry into the whole sequence of events from January 1 to 5. Shashikumar said the woman had about nine cases pending against her. She has been sent to judicial custody. “Men officers and staff have not given any complaint, but lady officers, two of whom are badly injured, have filed a complaint,” he added.
