Agra: Several personnel from Agra’s Rakabganj police station are suspected to have a role in the assault on two colleagues that took place over their alleged extramarital affair three days ago.
The police commissioner has already suspended two head constables, who allegedly filmed the episode instead of trying to stop the assault on former station in-charge inspector Shaili Rana and inspector Pawan Kumar.
A team led by ACP, Sadar, Sukanya Sharma is probing the case wherein disturbing evidence of internal strife within the police station is coming to the fore, according to sources in the local police.
On Saturday evening, Pawan’s wife Geeta, accompanied by her brother, sister-in-law, nephew and others, stormed Shaili’s government residence and assaulted the two over their alleged illicit relationship. Bystanders and police officers recorded videos, which subsequently was widely shared on social media.
The officers are accused to have remained mute spectators even as Pawan fractured his hand as he was thrashed and his clothes torn in the melee.
Geeta, her brother and sister-in-law — who were later arrested for trespassing, assault, and intimidation — are currently in jail.
The inquiry found that inspector Shaili had disputes with several station personnel, including an altercation with a clerk the day before the incident, the sources said. On Saturday, Geeta arrived at her residence directly, suggesting prior intimation from within the police ranks.
CCTV footage from the police station is being checked to ascertain whether Geeta and her family visited the station before the assault. The call details of suspect officers are also being scrutinised, the sources added.
“The investigation is ongoing, with further arrests likely and pending action. The department is scrutinising evidence, including inspector Shaili’s statements and the call records of implicated officers, before the report is finalised,” the ACP said.
In related developments, the Uttar Pradesh Journalists Association (UPJA) has condemned the police action of booking two journalists for their alleged complicity in the assault case.
This, according to the police, was after inspector Shaili accused a media team of intruding into her room despite her objection.
UPJA district president Desh Deepak Tiwari met the police commissioner, who assured him of a fair investigation.
“The primary role of journalists is to report events. Any form of harassment against journalists performing their duties is not warranted. The police must uphold their image without tarnishing it through internal conflicts, as highlighted in this incident. Media professionals should not be made a scapegoat. The association will ensure that justice prevails, even if it requires protests,” Tiwari said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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