SHILLONG: Shrishty (name changed), wife of an Assam Rifles jawan has alleged that officials within the oldest paramilitary force in the country is putting pressure on her to sweep under the carpet a sexual harassment and blackmail case she brought up against another jawan of the force.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Shrishty alleged that Dan Singh Negi, a jawan from 40 Assam Rifles had been sexually harassing her over phone for the past four months and when she brought up the matter before the higher authorities of the paramilitary force she was advised not to take the matter forward.
“The officers have advised me not to take the matter forward as it would bring bad reputation to me and my family,” Shrishty told reporters while adding that the first question that the Assam Rifles officer asked her when she brought up the matter was – “did you sleep with him?”
The victim said that even before hearing her entire case, the officer asking the question was biased and spoke at length about the insensitiveness of the officer towards women’s issues.
The woman has demanded a thorough probe conducted against Negi so that the truth comes to light.
On the other hand, Assam Rifles spokesperson, Lt. Col Sunil Rawat said that the victim has so far not filed any complaint with the force.
“We request her to do so and after that an investigation would be conducted and if anyone is found guilty, strict action would be taken,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in an audio recording of a phone conversation supposedly of Negi, he claims that the victim stayed with him in a hotel and that he has other evidences of having sexual encounters with her.
“This is the precise manner Negi has been threatening me. Unless I give in to him he would bring disrepute to me and my family.”
When contacted Negi claimed innocence and said that he has never harassed the woman in question nor has he spoken any ill about the victim.
“It is not true I have never done anything wrong. I have never said those things that I am being alleged of saying” he said in his defense.