Agriculture ministry official arrested on molestation charge

An officer of the Agriculture Ministry was arrested for allegedly attacking a senior woman officer of the same ministry with an intent to molest her at a retreat centre near here, the police said today. "Mahinder Singh Dhanda, an assistant director in Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, was arrested after a complaint was lodged against him," Superintendent of Police Ri-Bhoi district CVK Reddy told PTI.

Dhanda attacked a senior lady officer of Krishi Vistar Bhavan in New Delhi shortly after last midnight with sharp weapons while she was sleeping alone in her room. Both had checked in Siloam Retreat Centre at Umiam, about 15 km from here, where a conference on agriculture was organised in collaboration with Meghalaya government.

According to the police the victim was asleep when Dhanda entered her room and physically abused her. On being attacked, the victim shouted for help and it took no time for her colleagues to round up the culprit, they said.

Dhanda was remanded to two days of police custody by a local court at Nongpoh. He was charged with illegally trespassing, molestation and attempt to murder, the police said.