North 24 Parganas, 30 July (H.S.): A civic volunteer has been arrested for allegedly raping and blackmailing a female colleague multiple times in the Habra police station area of North 24 Parganas district. Both the accused and the woman are civic volunteers attached to Habra Police Station.

According to police, the woman alleged in her complaint that her male colleague secretly took photographs of her while she was changing clothes to wear her uniform. He allegedly later used the photographs to blackmail her and forced her into physical relations on multiple occasions by threatening to make the pictures public.

The woman further alleged that the accused warned her of serious consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone. She eventually approached Habra Police Station and lodged a written complaint.

Following a preliminary investigation, police arrested the accused civic volunteer. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections pertaining to rape, intimidation and blackmail. He was also removed from duty after the complaint was filed.

The accused was produced before the Barasat court on Wednesday, which remanded him to five days of police custody.

Barasat Police District Superintendent J. Mercy said on Thursday that the accused was removed from duty after the complaint was received and that a case had been registered.

The police said the investigation is underway and all aspects of the allegations are being examined.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey