Kedarnath: 2 Policemen Face Suspension Over Allegations Of Molesting Woman Pilgrim

Two police sub-inspectors, Kuldeep Negi and Manjul Rawat, have been suspended in charge of molesting a woman pilgrim from Madhya Pradesh in Kedarnath in May 2023.

Representational Image | The Inquiry Committee recommended the suspension of two police officers in the Kedarnath molestation case.

Source : ABPLIVE_AI

Two police sub-inspectors have been suspended for molesting a woman pilgrim from Madhya Pradesh in Kedarnath a year ago. Sub-inspector Kuldeep Negi and Kedarnath Station House Officer Manjul Rawat were suspended based on the recommendation of an inquiry committee, said Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP), Vishakha Ashok Bhadane.

According to news agency PTI, the incident occurred in May 2023, when the woman came to visit Kedarnath with her eight friends. After visiting the Himalayan temple, her friends left via helicopter, but she remained behind due to a lack of space. As she waited for the next helicopter, but due to bad weather the service was halted for the day. As a result, she had to stay for that night.

Finding a lack of proper lodging arrangements, she took help from Rawat, who suggested she stay at the police camp, assuring her that a woman constable would be assigned for her security, the woman stated in her complaint. Contrary to the promise, no woman constable was sent to the police camp.

Woman Reports To Rudraprayag SP

Instead, sub-inspector Negi, allegedly intoxicated, arrived at the camp and molested her. The woman returned to Indore in the next morning and reported the incident to the Rudraprayag SP via WhatsApp.

The SP initiated an inquiry committee headed by a Guptkashi circle officer to look into the matter. However, the investigation did not make much progress. Later, the woman lodged a complaint on CM helpline Uttarakhand in October 2023.

Subsequently, Dehradun's SP (City) Pramod Kumar was tasked with the investigation. His recent report to the administration implicated the two officers, leading to an FIR being filed against them at Sonprayag Kotwali on June 28, and their suspension, the Rudraprayag SP said, news agency PTI reported.