Five Policemen Suspended After Woman Alleges Rape Inside Jharkhand Police Station

A police constable was arrested for allegedly raping a woman inside a police station in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district, where she had sought help after a domestic dispute, police said on Saturday.

Five policemen, including the officer-in-charge of Gamharia police station, were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty, irresponsible conduct and indiscipline following the incident, which occurred on the night of October 29.

According to a police statement, the woman had an altercation with her husband on Thursday evening and left home, fearing that he might assault her. She took shelter at a neighbour’s house and contacted the police using her mobile phone.

A police control room (PCR) van subsequently arrived and brought her to Gamharia police station that night, the statement said. The officers on duty provided her with a room to rest. However, while she was inside the room, the accused, who worked as a wireless operator at the police station, allegedly raped her, police said.

Superintendent of Police Manoj Swargiary directed Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anubhav Bhardwaj to investigate the matter. Following the SDPO’s report, the accused was arrested and subsequently remanded to judicial custody by a court, the police statement said.

The SP also ordered the suspension of the station’s officer-in-charge and four other personnel over alleged lapses in their duties and inappropriate conduct in connection with the incident.

The five suspended policemen were attached to the police lines, the statement added. Police have seized the clothes worn by the accused at the time of the alleged offence. The process of sending the seized items to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Ranchi for examination was underway, officials said.

The incident has raised serious concerns over the safety of women seeking assistance from law enforcement agencies, particularly those approaching police stations for protection during domestic disputes.

The investigation is continuing, and the allegations against the accused will be examined through the legal process.