SHO among 4 cops suspended for laxity in rape attempt case

Lucknow: Four policemen, including a station house officer and a sub-inspector, were suspended on Sunday for laxity and failing to act on the complaint of rape attempt lodged by a teacher of a government primary school in Sitapur.

Cops swung into action when a video of policemen trying to delay the lodging of FIR went viral.

The teacher was returning from her school on January 28 when a man forcibly took her to the fields and sexually assaulted her. He also looted her bag, earrings and Rs 2,000 before fleeing the spot.

When the teacher approached Sandana police station, she was kept waiting for lodging of her complaint despite there being a women helpdesk. Senior police officials took cognizance of the matter when the video highlighting the laxity went viral.

Circle officer, Misrikh, Mahendra Pratap Singh said, “Sandana police kept the woman waiting though there is a women helpdesk at every police station. A video also surfaced where the cops are seen asking a number of questions to the woman and telling her to wait outside the police station.”

He said though the FIR under the charges of sexual harassment, attempt to commit robbery and loot was lodged the same day but the process was delayed.

Taking strong note of the incident, the Sitapur SP suspended

SHO

, Sandana, RB Suman, sub-inspector Vijay Shankar, head constable Surya Pal Singh and lady constable Rekha Sharma.

Six teams were formed to investigate the matter after which the accused, Ram Sajeevan, was arrested on Saturday.

Police said the accused ran a rickshaw in Lucknow and had been stalking the teacher to know about her routine. He would be booked under the Goonda Act, police added.