Cuttack, June 12: A police constable has been arrested on charges of allegedly attempting to rape a woman sanitation worker inside the Buxi Bazaar Police Lines in Cuttack, barely 100 metres from the Odisha Police Headquarters. The accused has also been suspended from service following the incident.
The arrested constable has been identified as Paresh Samal (49), a resident of Badamba and posted at the Cuttack Rural District Reserve Office. Following a complaint lodged by the victim at Cantonment Police Station, police registered a case and arrested the accused from his rented house at Deulasahi on Thursday. He was later produced before a court.
According to the complaint, the incident took place during the early hours of Wednesday when the 46-year-old contractual sanitation worker was engaged in cleaning work near the Cuttack Rural Reserve Office. The woman alleged that the constable suddenly approached her from behind and attempted to sexually assault her.
The victim reportedly raised an alarm and managed to escape from the accused's clutches before running towards the Police Headquarters seeking help. Police personnel present in the area intervened and informed Cantonment Police Station about the incident.
By the time police reached the spot, the accused had fled. Subsequently, the victim lodged a formal complaint, following which police recorded her statement and launched a search operation.
Considering the seriousness of the allegation, Cantonment Police intensified the investigation and arrested the accused within hours. The matter was also brought to the notice of the Cuttack Rural Superintendent of Police.
Acting on the complaint, Cuttack Rural SP Vineet Agrawal placed the accused constable under suspension pending investigation.
The incident has triggered concern as it allegedly occurred within the police lines and in close proximity to the State Police Headquarters and a women's police station. The case has raised questions over the conduct of police personnel and security within police establishments.
