Bankura, 10 June (H.S.)
A professor from Howrah has been arrested on charges of molesting a female doctor-professor in the air-conditioned coach of a moving train. The accused professor of a university in Purulia was produced in the Bankura District Court on Tuesday and the judge ordered him to be sent to judicial custody for seven days.
According to court and railway police sources, on May 27, a female doctor-professor of Purulia Government Medical College appeared at Bankura GRP station. She lodged a complaint of molestation. In the complaint, the 'victim' said that on the night of May 26, she boarded the AC coach of Chakradharpur Passenger train from Howrah station to Purulia. The next morning she woke up before the train reached Bishnupur station. Because one of her co-passengers tried to molest her.
After receiving the complaint, the railway police at Bankura station were shocked. The accused was searched for several days, but he was not found. On Monday, the railway police received information from a special source that the accused is a professor by profession. He is hiding in Howrah. The railway police rushed to Howrah. They arrested the accused and took him to Bankura. On Tuesday, the railway police produced the accused in the Bankura District Court. The railway police have registered a case against the accused under sections 74, 64 and 62 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
On Tuesday, Rathin De, public prosecutor of Bankura District Court, said, On the day of the incident, a female doctor-professor of Purulia Government Medical College and a professor of a university in Purulia were travelling in the same train in the same compartment. The professor allegedly molested the doctor. The railway police arrested the accused and produced him in the court. The accused party applied for anticipatory bail in the court. But the judge rejected the bail application and ordered to keep him in jail till June 16. On the other hand, the accused's lawyer Tapas Chaudhary said, The complainant had initially lodged a complaint of molestation with the railway police. Later she changed her statement and added the allegation of rape. Changing the statement by a doctor is beyond our comprehension. I feel that no truth behind this incident is coming before the court. However, the police have started the investigation. My client had applied for anticipatory bail. But in the meantime the police arrested him. My client is helping the police in the investigation in every way.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
