Guwahati: A team of Assam Police left for Karnataka on Saturday in connection with expelled Assam Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) president Angkita Dutta's FIR registered at the Dispur police station in Assam's Guwahati, police sources said late Saturday. A couple of more teams of Assam Police are likely to go to Chhattisgarh’s Raipur and Delhi in connection with the same case, according to the police. On Thursday, Dutta had filed a police complaint against IYC chief Srinivas BV for allegedly harassing her for six months.
In her written complaint lodged with the police, Dutta accused Srinivas of continuously harassing her for the past six months. She said the IYC leader not only made sexist comments, but also used "slang words" against het, besides allegedly threatening her of dire consequences if the she complained against him before the higher-ups in the Congress Party.
Dutta also requested the Assam Police to take immediate action against Srinivas.
The Dispur police registered a case against Srinivas under Sections 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman)/294 of the IPC (Sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), /341 of the IPC (Punishment for wrongful restraint) /352 of the IPC (Whosoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person)/ 354 of the IPC (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty)/354 A (iv) of the IPC (Physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures) /506 of the IPC (Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc.), and section 67 of IT Act 2000 (Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form).
Support From Ruling Party
Earlier, Dutta had taken to social media to bring the allegations of harassment against Srinivas.
In a series of tweets, Angkita had referred to Srinivas as “sexist” and “chauvinistic".
"I am a woman leader. If I undergo such harassment, how I am supposed to encourage other women to join," read one of her tweets.
Angkita had also accused senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of not initiating action against Srinivas despite being apprised of the matter several months ago.
The Congress, however, dismissed the charges saying they were politically motivated, and even expelled her from the primary membership of the party.
Meanwhile, a few BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, have come in support of the youth leader.
Angkita is the daughter of former Assam congress chief Anjan Dutta who was an influential minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led government. Angkita had unsuccessfully contested the Assam assembly election on a Congress ticket from Amguri constituency.