Cop suspended for assaulting woman

An assistant sub-inspector with the Kumaraswamy Layout police station has been suspended for assaulting a woman who approached the station with a complaint on January 19.

ASI Renukaiah had asked one of the constables to record the incident for his defence, but the constable leaked an edited video on social media following a quarrel with the ASI over police duty assignments.

The video went viral, prompting K Annamalai, DCP South division, to take disciplinary action against the errant ASI and suspend him indefinitely on Tuesday. Annamalai ordered the Subramanyapura sub-division ACP to probe the incident and submit a report.

The police said Saraswathi (18) from Chittoor, a victim of child marriage, had eloped from her maternal home with her uncle (mother’s brother), and the duo were out of Bengaluru for six years before returning a year ago.

The girl said she had been harassed by her mother and in-laws and sought police protection to live independently after turning major. Her mother Rajeshwari wanted Saraswathi to leave her husband and live with her.

Rajeshwari searched for the girl and learnt that Saraswathi was living in a hotel in Kumaraswamy Layout. She went to the hotel with her relatives to forcibly bring Saraswathi to her residence, which the young girl resisted.

The hotel owner called the police who picked up both the mother and the daughter and took them to the station.

The girl narrated her ordeal and told the police that she was free to decide her life having turned major, making it clear that she would not like to go with her mother. An enraged Rajeshwari created a ruckus at the police station and assaulted her daughter.

ASI Renukaiah, the station house in-charge, slapped Rajeshwari and shoved everyone out of the station. He had asked the constable to take a video of Rajeshwari creating a ruckus at the station for his defence. But the constable who had a quarrel with the ASI wanted to settle scores with Renukaiah and uploaded the edited video on Sunday. The video went viral and resulted in Renukaiah’s suspension.