Dehradun police arrested a person on Monday in connection with alleged harassment of a woman by four persons. Based on the woman’s complaint, a case under Sections 147, 323, 504, 506 and 354 (a)(b)(d) of IPC was lodged against Raghuveer, Karan, Pujari, Subhash and others in the Raipur police Station, said police station in-charge M Tyagi. Some days ago, the complainant had attempted suicide by consuming poison for fear of being harassed by the accused persons.
The police, however, refused to acknowledge that the complainant had attempted suicide due to delay in registration of an FIR based on her statement. The victim who was supposed to record her statement under section 164 of IPC before a magistrate on Monday but this could not be done due to her health condition.
On May 10, the victim had submitted a written complaint to the police stating she was physically harassed by four persons. She also demanded immediate action against the accused who were allegedly threatening her over this issue.
Following delay in action against the accused, she attempted suicide without success. She was admitted in the hospital where her condition is stated to be stable.
After being pressurised by the victim’s desperate act of attempting suicide, the police arrested one of the accused Raghuveer late on Sunday night and presented him in the court on Monday from where he secured bail, said the police officer. Teams have been formed to nab the remaining accused though these accused had sought to surrender in the court for which the court has set the hearing on Wednesday, informed the police.
Critics opined that delay in action on registered cases is raising a question at the efficiency of the police. In several cases, it has been learnt that police do not register an FIR against the accused if women reach the police station to register complaints against gender crimes.
In this case also, the female victim had reported eve teasing, physical harassment, threat and other crimes to the police, but if the victim is to be believed police had earlier registered a case only for physical harassment. Observers point out that the police need to improve its functioning especially when it comes to dealing with crimes against women.