136 sleuths of Bihar Police quit training

Patna, Jun 23 (UNI) Nearly 136 sleuths of the Bihar Police, who came back from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir leaving their training midway, alleged harrasment, including sexual exploitation, by the Border Security Force (BSF) trainers.

The newly-selected police of Bihar, who had gone for training at Udhampur, made a complaint before Bihar Policemen Association regarding their alleged harrasment at the training centre.

However, State Director General of Police (DGP) S C Jha said today said Commandant of Patna based Bihar Military Police Ram Narayan Singh had already been sent there to investigate the allegations.

He added the charges appeared to be 'frivolous', as the training was very rough and the recruits, unable to bear its rigours, might have cooked up the story of sexual harassment.

''The actual position will be known once the commandant submits his report after making a thorough probe into the allegations,'' Mr Jha added.

About 370 recruits of the BMP had joined the Udhampur and Jagnoo training Centres of the BSF on June 1 for a 40-week training course.

They had later alleged that the trainers belonging to the BSF had not only ''misbehaved'' with them, but had also exploited them sexually.

The annoyed policemen stated that to protest the incident, they left their training midway and were not willing to go back for resuming the training programme.

Meanwhile, Bihar Police Men's Association general secretary Liyakat Ali termed the incident ''unfortunate'' and said the behaviour at the training centre was ''objectionable''.

He said the association had taken the matter seriously and would raise the issue before the senior police officials of the state.

He, however, said that the association would take any action only after the commandant of BMP 6 entrusted to probe into the incident submits his report.

UNI RS-KKS/ANJ ATI RN2154