Meghalaya police officer arrested for molesting minor

A Meghalaya police officer was arrested for molesting a minor girl, an officer said Monday.

Prosecuting Inspector Alarick J. Sangma was nabbed Sunday night from Williamnagar (district headquarters of West Garo Hills), based on an FIR lodged against him, the official said.

"Sangma has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for outraging the girl's modesty and attempting to rape her. Several sections under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were invoked," Davies R. Marak, the district police chief of East Garo Hills, told IANS.

"The accused had molested the minor girl inside his vehicle while travelling from Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills, to Williamnagar. He again molested her in his official quarter at the police reserve," Marak said, quoting the 17-year-old girl.

Marak said the police officer has been placed under suspension.

He added: "We have already filed a chargesheet against the prosecuting inspector and the district and session court has remanded him to 14 days' judicial custody."

A senior police official said the inspector could face termination of service, since he stands accused of a heinous crime against a minor.

Last year, the Meghalaya government dismissed from service two police officers accused of rape.

Incidents of crime against women, especially rape, have been showing an upward trend in Meghalaya, traditionally known for its matrilineal society and respect for women.

Meghalaya government statistics reveal that in 2013 alone (from January to September), 250 cases of crimes against women were registered. Of these, 151 were of rape.