Molestation charge against Alok Raj baseless

Kolkata, May 18 (UNI) The molestation charge against DIG (CRPF) Alok Raj made by a woman at Nandigram has been found baseless, Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said today.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Chakraborty said another allegation by a woman CRPF constable that she had been molested by Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, was also found to be lacking evidence.

''Neither of the charges has been proved in the probe,'' he said, after Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Rakesh Gupta submitted a report to the government during the day.

Both the charges were made on May 11, the day of the first day of polling for the Panchayat elections in West Bengal.

The CRPF official, against whom the allegation was made got involved in a heated argument with CPI(M) MP Lakshan Seth who had alleged that the central force exceeded its limit.

Denying the allegation of molestation against him, Mr Raj said he had been falsely implicated.

On the same day, the state police personnel got involved in a scuffling with CRPF men deployed in Nandigram to bring in peace, in which the OC of the local Police Station was stated to be injured and a woman constable of CRPF levelled charge against RAF, a wing of the state police of molestation.

''It has become an unfortunate trend to bring charges of molestation on any issue,'' the Home Secretary said.

The IG who had been asked to probe the matter was also supposed to look into the allegation of the Nandigram OC being assaulted by CRPF men.

The Home Secretary, however, did not say anything on the issue.

UNI KDG ADG GL KN2116