Woman DIG accused of verbally abusing, slapping, staff at Kilpauk, association seeks actions

Chennai: A police ministerial staff has said a woman deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police assaulted him and threw footwear at him at the Armed Reserve headquarters at Kilpauk, following a dispute over an e-office file number.The Tamil Nadu Police Ministerial Staff Association condemned the incident and adopted a resolution demanding action against the DIG, M Vijayalakshmi. When contacted, Vijayalakshmi declined to comment.According to the resolution, the incident took place around 3.10pm on May 11 at the Armed Reserve headquarters. It said junior assistant C Vignesh was handling office work when the DIG questioned him over an e-office file number with which she was dissatisfied. During the exchange, she shouted at him, questioned his importance, and warned that she would issue a charge memo against him. The association further alleged that Vijayalakshmi slapped the employee, removed her footwear and threw it at him in front of other police and staff present at the office.The association also claimed that this was not the officer's first instance of such behaviour, and that she would, in many cases, tear papers if she encountered file numbers she disliked. Members of the association said the incident caused severe mental distress and humiliation to the employee. Vignesh informed senior officials and submitted a written representation to higher authorities seeking action. Staff members have also accused her of frequently using derogatory and abusive language toward ministerial employees.In its resolution, the association demanded the officer's transfer, departmental action against her, and a formal apology to the affected staff. The association has also forwarded the resolution to chief minister's special cell, HoPF/DGP and DGP, Armed Police.