Cong demands suspension of IPS officer for 'anti-Dalit rant'

The Congress Tuesday requested the Maharashtra Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Commission (MSCSTC) to register a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act against a woman IPS officer and sought her suspension for making controversial remarks against Dalits.

In a letter addressed to MSCSTC member CL Thul, the SC cell of the Maharashtra Congress also demanded that a probe be initiated against the probationary IPS officer Bhagyashree Navtake.

Navtake, an Assistant Superintendent of Police posted in Beed district, had allegedly said that she had thrashed at least 21 Dalits by "tying their hands and legs" to vent her ire against the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

In a video that has gone viral, Navtake purportedly said she had also beaten up Muslims in the last six months.

After her comments caused an uproar, Navtake was transferred to state intelligence department in Aurangabad.

"The backward Dalit community is unlikely to get any justice from such a casteist officer. Hence, she be probed and a case be filed against her under the SC/ST Atrocities Act," reads the letter signed by Gautam Arkade, vice president of the Congress' SC cell and another leader Narendra Bansode.

They also claimed that the "venomous" comments of the police officer have created "insecurity" among dalits in the Marathwada region (which covers both the Beed and Aurangabad districts).