New Delhi: No conviction has been made against at least 150 Delhi Police personnel, who were or are being investigated, or are facing charges over allegations of rape, molestation and sexual harassment in the past six years.
As per a report by Hindustan Times, in 122 cases, the investigations are going on. While the other 28 policemen, who were involved in such cases were acquitted.
Among the complaints registered, three policewomen accused their seniors of sexual harassment. The allegations also include stalking, inappropriate touching and trying to have “unnatural sex” with women.
The information was acquired by Hindustan Times from 38 Delhi Police departments under the Right to Information law.
According to the rights activists, women may face further harassment while even registering their complaints. They sometimes asked to pay bribes, on other occasions they can be asked for sexual favours.
Director of Social Research, Ranjana Kumari said: “Complaining about police personnel is very difficult because they are in a powerful position to negotiate. By and large, victims are pushed to withdraw their cases.”
In one such incident, a woman alleged that a constable and his son raped and beat her up in 2015. The policeman was arrested on her complaint and a court is hearing the case, one of the RTI replies from Rohini (south) police station said.
While speaking to Hindustan Times, two women victims alleged mental torture and threat from senior officers when they went to police station to file a complaint.
One of them said she was “groped and touched” by a head constable last year. “When I filed a case against the head constable, an ACP [assistant commissioner of police] tried to convince me not to go ahead,” she said.
Defending the police force, Delhi Police spokesman Dependra Pathak said: “We take action with speed and certainty. “We have institutionalised the process of gender sensitisation of the police force and our vigilance department is proactive in such cases.”