Close on the heels of the molestation of a girl in Guwahati that generated national outcry, a middle-aged woman met with a similar fate, allegedly at the hands of a senior police officer with the Rapid Rescue Response Force Unit in Malappuram, here on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as T T Subrahmanian, 38, of Theeyadipadi Veedu in Deshamangalam who is a Circle Inspector. According to police, the accused allegedly molested a woman on a running bus. He was caught on the spot by fellow passengers and taken to the police station.
According to the police, the woman, aged 48, was returning home after performing Vavu bali on the banks of Bharathapuzha. She had boarded the bus from Cheruthuruthy. The accused attempted to outrage the modesty of the victim while on the bus.
In her complaint, the victim said that the officer tried to grope her violently from behind while she chose to ignore his initial bout of advances. However, when his physical torture crossed the boundary, she raised an alarm. The accused then attempted to escape from the scene pretending to abuse her, but was caught red-handed by fellow passengers aboard the bus, the police said.
The Wadakkanchery police said that the accused was beaten up by the public before being handed over to the police. Following an instruction by the DGP, the accused has been suspended from service.