Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 18: In a rare incident reported at Gangolli here on Tuesday June 17, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police was slapped by a woman in a bus for allegedly groping her. He was also arrested and put behind bars thereafter.

The man, identified as Devaraj, who is attached to Shankarnarayana police station in the taluk, is said to have misbehaved while travelling in a bus, by showing the audacity to fondle a standing lady passenger.

Devaraj, who stays in a rented home in Gangolli near here, used to travel to Shankarnarayana, where he is posted, every day. Before being transferred to Shankarnarayana, he was working in Gangolli, and stayed in the same house.

On Tuesday evening, Devaraj was travelling in a bus to Gangolli from Kundapur, when on the way, a woman holding a small baby boarded the bus at Trasi. As the bus was full, Devaraj was standing, and the lady, who had to travel in standing position, took position by his side. The ASI, perhaps sensing an opportunity provided by the fact that both the hands of the lady were busy holding the baby with one, and clinging to the rod above for support with the other, is said to have gently tapped her private parts. When he repeated this act a few times, the woman lost her patience and rebuked him. The ASI replied arrogantly, and a verbal altercation ensued for a long time.

Fed up by the misbehaviour of Devaraj, the woman slapped him when the bus stopped at Bavikatte, and complained to Gangolli police. Policemen led by Kundapur circle inspector, P M Divakar, then arrested Devaraj and registered a case against him.

Devaraj had earlier worked as police constable, and had earned promotion as head constable and assistant police sub-inspector in course of time. Reportedly, his colleagues and higher ups in the department also had been frustrated at his arrogance and behaviour, both of which were unbecoming of a policeman. He was involved with a dispute last year, which took ugly turn in course of time, before the policemen intervened and struck truce between him and other people involved with this dispute. His wife, working as teacher in a government school, is said to be well behaved. Devaraj, who learnt to be addicted to drinking, had been transferred to Kundapur in the recent mass transfers, but was yet to report for duty there. There is information that he was also eligible for promotion as police sub-inspector.

A case under Indian Penal Code section 354 was registered against Devaraj. The charges levelled against him are said to be non-bailable. The indecency and insensitivity shown in broad daylight and in the presence of a large number of co-passengers by a police personnel who sexually harassed a lady who expects protection from policemen like him when in danger, has given rise to a sense of scare and mistrust about the policemen among the general public. Many were seen asking as to how far the department is justified in continuing him in its services or promoting him to a higher position.