SHO post: Women SIs to take exams

PATNA: Forty women sub-inspectors (SIs) have to compete through the written examination and interview at the police lines on Wednesday for the station house officer (SHO) post at Women’s police station in Patna.

DIG (central range) Rajesh Kumar on Tuesday asked the 40 women SIs of Patna police to qualify for the Women’s police station SHO after he suspended the incumbent Bibha Kumari for allegedly delaying the registration of an FIR in a five-year-old girl’s rape case and not informing properly her seniors about the incident.

The DIG also formed a team of four superintendents of police (east, west, central and rural) to monitor the examination and nominate the best three candidates following which one would be appointed as the new Patna women’s police station SHO.

The DIG said the main focus of examination would be to know about their knowledge of law in cases of crime against women, especially in heinous incidents. “The most important aspect will be to figure out sensitivity of officers towards victims and their approach when heinous crime against women surfaces,” he said.

Regarding Bibha’s suspension, the DIG said the SHO delayed for more than 24 hours in conducting the victim’s medical examination, which affected the evidence. The victim’s neighbour, Amar Kumar (22), had allegedly taken the minor to a secluded place near railway tracks at road number 31 in Gardanibagh and raped her on July 6, but the case was reported on July 8 whereas an FIR was lodged with the Women’s police station on July 9. The accused has not been arrested yet.

“The SHO was ordered to take immediate action after senior officers came to know about the incident, but by that time the aggrieved family had fled after locking their residence,” the DIG said, adding the SHO visited the spot and reported that no rape took place in the area.

“Later, City SP (central) was ordered to look into the matter and Sachivalaya DSP was sent to the spot for investigation on Monday. The DSP verified the rape incident and traced the family before an FIR could be lodged,” he said and added the victim’s medical examination indicated injury in and bleeding from her private part.