ACP Kavitha-led committee to probe harassment allegations against TR Jagannath

Mangalore, May 25: A nine-member committee has been set up by Mangalore City Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar to probe into allegations of harassment at workplace levelled by assistant sub-inspector Srikala KT against assistant commissioner of police (ACP) South division TR Jagannath.

The committee is headed by Mangalore central division ACP Kavitha BT. Manish has also accepted a request by Jagannath to proceed on leave for 10 days starting May 26.

The committee set as per guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the Vishaka case comprises of eight police personnel including six women personnel from the department, Rameela Shekar, dean, school of social work, Roshni Nilaya and two male police inspectors. Manish has directed the deputy commissioner of police (law and order) M Muthuraya to let the committee probe the incident and submit its report at the earliest.

Briefing reporters about these decisions here on Saturday, Manish said barring the subject matter of Srikala's letter to him about the incident on May 22, there is no explicit mention of Jagannath subjecting her to any sort of sexual harassment. "Srikala's complaint is more to do with harassment at workplace and use of foul language against her and denial of leave to her by Jagannath," Manish said. The committee will look at the issue in totality, he noted.

Acknowledging the fact that there had been no committee to deal with issues of harassment of women in the city policing unit so far, Manish said the findings of the inquiry report that the committee submits will determine Jagannath's fate. Stating there is no immediate cause to suspend Jagannath, he said if there is apprehension that Jagannath would intimidate Srikala, the department would ensure that this does not happen and inquiry will be fair.