Bengal Police officer arrested for rape at Salt Lake guest house

Kolkata, Aug 18 (IANS) Bidhannagar Police have arrested an Assistant Sub‑Inspector (ASI) of West Bengal Police accused of raping a woman at a guest house in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused officer, identified as Ajmal Haque, posted at Nalhati police station in Birbhum district, was arrested in Bandra, Mumbai, on Monday by officers of Bidhannagar East Police Station.

Police brought him to Kolkata on transit remand and produced him before the Bidhannagar court on Tuesday. Police have sought his custody for further investigation.

According to police, the incident took place on June 19 this year. In July, the woman filed a written complaint at Bidhannagar East Police Station alleging that she had gone to a guest house in CL Block of Salt Lake, where the policeman raped her.

Investigators said the accused ASI had applied for anticipatory bail but absconded, disobeying the court’s order. Following this, Bidhannagar East Police contacted Birbhum District Police.

Police sources said they later received information through secret channels that the accused was hiding in Mumbai.

Based on mobile phone location data and other inputs, a team from Bidhannagar East Police Station raided Mumbai and arrested Haque.

An official said the accused not only left the district but also went outside the state.

“Based on the location of his mobile phone and information obtained during the investigation, it was learned that he was hiding in Mumbai. A team reached there, conducted a raid and arrested Ajmal Haque,” the official stated.

Investigators are now focusing on collecting detailed information and evidence to support the complaint.

They are examining what exactly happened in the guest house, the nature of contact between the accused and the complainant beforehand, and other possible evidence including the guest house register and CCTV footage.

–IANS

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