Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 1:  Noted writer and novelist, Sara Abubakar, demanded holding of an impartial inquiry at the government level about the allegation of sexual harassment levelled by Pandeshwar station assistant police sub-inspector, Shreekala, against assistant commissioner of police (ACP), T R Jagannath. She said that it is the duty of the government to ensure that justice is done in cases where women employees complain of harassment at work places.

“Now the concerned people are finding ways and means to derail the investigation. As a part of this conspiracy, a case has now been registered against Shreekala relating to an economic offence reportedly committed by her husband two years back,” she pointed out. 

Sara felt that the police commissioner was not right in dismissing the allegation of sexual harassment as false just because this word has been mentioned only once in the complaint made by Shreekala. She said she does not believe that the inquiry conducted by officials of the rank of below or equivalent to the ACP cadre can do justice, duly pointing out that the inquiry committee, even after so many days, has failed to take up the issue.

“Even after the receipt of serious complaint against the ACP, no first information report has yet been registered. The official has not even been suspended till the completion of inquiry. These developments clearly demonstrate that chances of Shreekala getting justice from this inquiry are bleak. The government should interfere in the matter immediately, and the in-charge minister should take initiative to punish the guilty official, failing which protest will be intensified,” she warned.

Social activist, Vidya Dinkar, Manjula, DYFI district president, Muneer Katipalla, Jeevanraj Kuttar, Krishnananda D of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti, and several others were present at the press conference.