- KOHIMA — The Nagaland Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team
(SIT) and registered an FIR to probe the allegations of sexual and mental
harassment of several women employees of the Investment and Development
Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) by an IAS officer, officials said on Saturday.
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- A senior official said that Nagaland State Women Commission
(NSCW) chairperson Nginyeih Konyak submitted a written complaint to the
Director General of Police on March 17 after the verbal intimation by IDAN
Chairman Abu Metha against the IAS officer on February 27.
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- Metha is also the advisor to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
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- The accused IAS officer is the Joint Secretary of IDAN,
Kohima. The IAS officer, however, has denied the allegations made by the women
employees.
Related story: IAS officer denies sexual assault charges, levels allegations against officials
- Before submission of the written complaint to the DGP, the
NSCW recorded the statements of the victim women, who are also working in the
IDAN.
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- Several women working in IDAN have accused the IAS officer
of asking for physical indulgence for a hike in salary and other benefits.
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- After receiving the complaint from the NSCW, the police
headquarters, as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
(BNSS), instituted a preliminary enquiry on March 25 by a lady officer of the
rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
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- The lady officer conducted the preliminary enquiry and
submitted the report to the DGP on April 1.
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- The official said that the report of the lady officer prima
facie revealed the commission of a cognizable offence of sexual harassment
under sections 75 & 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), warranting
an in-depth criminal investigation and recommended for further investigation to
uncover the full extent and truthfulness of the allegations.
