Mangalore: 'ACP Jagannath used influence, support by Congress leaders to get clean chit'
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SS)
Mangalore, Sep 16: Social activist Vidya Dinker on Monday September 16 alleged a conspiracy in the ASI Shreekala - ACP Jagannath case, and claimed that high-level Congress leaders have been supporting T R Jagannath.
Addressing a press meet here, Dinker said that Sreekala had submitted a 400-page report to the committee which was formed to investigate the case, in which she had levelled charges of sexual harassment against the ACP and narrated her ordeal. "But the committee headed by ACP Kavitha, who is junior to T R Jagannath, gave a clean chit to the accused without a proper probe. The inquiry committee was in favour of Jagannath throughout. This clearly shows that he used influence and pressure tactics," she said.
"Home minister K J George during his Mangalore visit had promised to take action against the accused but nothing has been done. The chief minister's order that no police personnel will work in the same district for more than 3 years has also been disregarded. T R Jagannath has been in the district for more than 20 years; this proves his contacts and extent of influence. Despite being a corrupt officer no action has been ever taken against him,” she alleged.
"The long-standing bill passed this year to tackle sexual harassment against working women was first implemented in Karnataka. But the sad part is that it has not been brought to use effectively," she added.
Urging establishment of a district-level committee headed by the deputy commissioner, she said, “There is no such committee now, because of which Shreekala had to file a private complaint. The committe formed to investigate the case cleared ACP Jagannath due to his infleunce and pressure."
She also said that a constable named Mohan in the same police station had filed a complaint against Shreekala stating that she had passed an offensive and casteist comment against him on September 9 at 10 am, and the case was registered on September 10. But Shreekala was present with the rest of the police personnel for the roll call at 10 am on September 9, hence the complaint was false.
"It is thus a conspiracy against her to demoralize and defame her. Mohan’s case was registered instantly without even an enquiry but when Shreekala wanted to file a case against T R Jagannath, no support was given to her. It was a sensitive issue to speak about and Shreekala was embarrassed to do so, but rather than supporting and listening to her, she was discouraged and told to 'adjust' with T R Jagannath,” Dinker said.
Members of Forum Against Atrocities on Women, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and similar organizations have stepped forward in support of Shreekala.
The organizations demanded that T R Jagannath be either suspended or transferred till the investigation is complete as he might try to destroy evidence or interfere in the probe.
The organizations have also opened a Facebook page to garner public support in their fight.