Nagaland Police register FIR, constitute SIT against IAS officer

KOHIMA: The Nagaland Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and registered an FIR to probe the allegations of sexual and mental harassment of several women employees of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) by an IAS officer, officials said on Saturday.

A senior official said that Nagaland State Women Commission (NSCW) chairperson Nginyeih Konyak submitted a written complaint to the Director General of Police on March 17 after the verbal intimation by IDAN Chairman Abu Metha against the IAS officer on February 27.

Metha is also the advisor to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. The accused IAS officer is the Joint Secretary of IDAN, Kohima. The IAS officer, however, has denied the allegations made by the women employees.

Before submission of the written complaint to the DGP, the NSCW recorded the statements of the victim women, who are also working in the IDAN. Several women working in IDAN have accused the IAS officer of asking for physical indulgence for a hike in salary and other benefits.

After receiving the complaint from the NSCW, the police headquarters, as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), instituted a preliminary enquiry on March 25 by a lady officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The lady officer conducted the preliminary enquiry and submitted the report to the DGP on April 1.

The official said that the report of the lady officer prima facie revealed the commission of a cognizable offence of sexual harassment under sections 75 & 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), warranting an in-depth criminal investigation and recommended for further investigation to uncover the full extent and truthfulness of the allegations.

The government constituted a SIT (Special Investigation Team) led by a senior IPS officer for a thorough investigation of the complaint. Further, on April 5, four officers were also co-opted into the SIT. The investigation of the case is undergoing, and the Police team is looking into all aspects of the allegations. On April 4, the IAS officer was relieved from his official duties at IDAN. (IANS)

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