Constables Varsha Patil and Anuradha Solunkhe both posted with the Local Arms 3 division were suspended for assaulting Nandini Goswami in the wee hours of Saturday.
Two women constables posted with the local arms division of the Mumbai police were suspended on Tuesday for assaulting a young woman at the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. On Sunday, a video of two women constables brutally assaulting the 20-year-old outside the pandal went viral on social media, leaving the top brass of the police department red-faced. An inquiry into the matter was ordered by senior officers.
Constables Varsha Patil and Anuradha Solunkhe both posted with the Local Arms 3 division were suspended for assaulting Nandini Goswami in the wee hours of Saturday.
Deputy commissioner of police (zone IV) Ashok Dudhe, who's conducting the inquiry, submitted an interim report, following which Patil and Solunkhe were placed under suspension.
An officer assisting in the inquiry said that as policewomen Patil and Solunkhe should have maintained calm. Both the women constables, being in uniform, should not have assaulted Goswami, no matter what the circumstances, the officer added.
However, the police also claimed that during the inquiry they have found that Goswami was the one who started the fight with the two. She also allegedly held one of them by the collar, when she (Goswami) was asked to move aside, and kicked the constable, after which the entire episode happened.
Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Deven Bharti said, "Patil and Solunkhe were suspended after the inquiry ascertained their presence at the scene of the assault and also at the police station where the victim was taken. We have also found an independent witness who saw the constables assaulting the victim."
"Even if there was any provocation from Goswami, assaulting her was misconduct on part of the constables. Our inquiry has also ascertained that the two constables assaulted her at the police station too," he added.
The police said they have received an email from a person claiming to have witnessed the entire incident. In his mail, the man claimed that he was present at the spot and saw Goswami misbehaving with the policewomen and also abusing them, after which they assaulted her.
According to Bharti, if the victim was trying to enter from the VIP gate without proper permission, she should have been stopped and, if she'd misbehaved, should have been taken to the police station and proper action initiated.
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