After complaining to the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh about the alleged misbehaviour by the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal, the Punjab women panel chief Manisha Gulati said on Tuesday said that disrespect or abusive remarks towards women should not be tolerated.
In a latest development, Gulati has moved the same complaint before the Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore alleging the misbehavior by Chahal.
Talking to the media persons on Tuesday, Gulati alleged that the Mohali SSP used abusive remarks when she called him up to redress the grievance of a Mohali based woman.
Gulati alleged that repeated requests by the complainant were overturned due to unknown reasons, so she had called SSP. Gulati also asserted that instead of listening to her, SSP went haywire and disrespected her.
She further alleged that the SSP was not addressing to the complaint filed by a local woman complaining sexual harassment.
The woman had approached the Commission complaining about the non-redressal of her complaint by the Mohali SSP, Gulati said.
Official sources said the chairperson in her complaint had stated that the commission was meant to uplift the dignity of women, but the incident spoke volumes about the plight of women in the state.
“I am representing the women in the state. I need coordination from our officers for smooth functioning of the Commission. If I can experience such an harsh behaviour by our officers, what will be the case of thousands of women seeking justice?”
On the other hand, Mohali SSP has denied the allegations of showing disrespect or misbehaviour towards the women panel chief.
Rather, he said that the chairperson of the state women’s commission having a misunderstanding and making false allegations.
“It was a formal chit-chat over the phone. The police was already perusing the matter related to the woman complainant. It was inappropriate to level such allegations against an Indian Police Service officer,” Chahal told The Statesman.
The incident took place on 17 May, when a Mohali based women approached Gulati complaining about the sexual harassment case. Following this, Gulati made a telephonic call to Chahal that reportedly turned into an alleged verbal spat between the duo.