A police constable in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district was on Sunday placed under suspension and arrested for allegedly harassing two sisters, one of them a minor, after they had gone to the police outpost to lodge a complaint of sexual harassment.
The police action came on a complaint by the victims. The police also took cognisance of a video of the alleged molestation that was circulated on social media.
Ishwari Prasad, the constable stationed at the Karhal Gate Chowki, was booked under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 9/10 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO).
Superintendent of Police Rajesh S. ordered a probe, stating that such cases would not be tolerated.
The incident took place on Saturday evening. An online footage reportedly shows the constable touching one of the girls inappropriately. The accused dismissed the charges. He claimed he touched her hand “as a father would his daughter’s, and asked her to go back home”.