An advocate has lodged a complaint with the State Women’s Commission against East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Rituraj Ravi for violation of established protocol of women legal rights.
According to the advocate, Enlang Sawian the police officer led a group of heavily armed male police personnel from the special operation team to the venue where Bindas Syiem was carrying out her indefinite hunger strike, with an intention to forcefully remove her from the place citing that they will be taking her for medical check-up on June 9 at around 12: 30 am.
“Ravi who appeared to be in an inebriated state had come to the Additional Parking lot, Secretariat and forcefully entered the place where Bindas Syiem was holding the protest without the presence of a female police officer or an executive magistrate which is required as per the rules and legal procedure of law,” Sawian said.
He said without getting her consent, the police team tried to forcefully take her but had to give after people who were present at the place prevented them.
“This act committed and displayed by the male police personnel of the Meghalaya Police Department at night hours against Syiem is clearly a violation of the established protocol of women legal rights, more so considering that she was exhausted, weak and her health was deteriorating due to her indefinite hunger strike,” Sawian said.
Seeking legal action against the police personnel, the advocate said such action cannot be accepted and encouraged as the incident has also created a sense of fear and insecurity for Syiem who is still continuing with her indefinite hunger strike.
Meanwhile, the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has also lodged a complaint with Director General of Police (DGP), Iadashisha Nongrang and demanded action against the SP.
The organisation said the action of the SP was a blatant disregard for the rights of the people to assemble peacefully in protest, which is protected and enshrined under Article 19(1) (b) of the Indian Constitution.
Quoting witnesses, HITO said the police officer went to the protest venue and was allegedly intoxicated. This, the organisation said, raises questions about the officer’s credibility and professionalism.
The organisation said that such incidents and actions have led to public mistrust of the police force, which has put a stain on the name of the police department.
Similarly, the Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) also made a verbal complaint over telephone to the DGP against the police officer.
