A 36-year-old woman employed with the government department accused her senior colleague of sexual harassment in Bhopal’s Kon-e-Fiza locality during the lockdown period in 2021.

January 24, 2022 17:39 IST

A 36-year-old woman employed with the government department accused her senior colleague of sexual harassment in Bhopal’s Kon-e-Fiza locality during the lockdown period in 2021

Madhya Pradesh saw a 16 per cent rise in rape cases in 2021 and at least 14 cases of sexual molestation were reported each day last year, data from the state government revealed. The records further showed that, on an average basis, more than 14 women and minors are raped daily in the state.

In another such horrific incident, a woman government staffer accused her senior colleague of sexual harassment during the lockdown period 2021. The victim alleged that her senior colleague sexually assaulted her during office hours in Koh-e-Fiza locality in Bhopal.

Accused warns victim

A report published in the Times of India (TOI) revealed that the victim in her complaint stated that the accused used to call her inside her cabin on the pretext of work and touched her in an inappropriate manner.

Investigating officer ASI Alka Khetkar was quoted by TOI as saying that the victim claimed that the accused reportedly harassed her inside his cabin. The officer said that when the victim felt uncomfortable and urged him to stop this behaviour, the colleague threatened her of dire consequences.

Later on, the terrified victim gathered the courage and filed a complaint against the accused at Kon-e-Fiza police station and also submitted an application to the police station and collector’s office.

The reports said that upon investigation, police have lodged a complaint of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against the accused and further investigations are underway.