Sexual harassment case: Woman coach accuses Chandigarh Police of helping out minister Sandeep Singh

On Thursday, more than 50 representatives of many women organisations staged a protest against Chandigarh Police demanding action against Haryana minister Sandeep Singh, who is yet to be arrested in a sexual harassment case, outside the District Courts in Sector 43.

The protesters covered their mouths with black clothes and carried placards with anti-minister slogans. Jagmati Sangwan, a Bhim awardee and former international vollyball player, said, “Justice delayed is justice denied. Chandigarh Police have failed to dispense justice to the victim woman coach. It exposed the real face of Chandigarh Police. The probe agency has failed to submit a challan against Sandeep Singh in the court. The Chandigarh Police is discouraging the victim woman in a way.”

The protest was held under the banner of Nyaya Sangharsh Samiti (NSS) spearheading the campaign for justice. Holding black placards in their hands, the protesters expressed anger against the Chandigarh Police for not arresting the accused despite registration of an FIR on December 31 last in grave offences allegedly owing to the political pressure. The protesters highlighted the demand being raised by women and other organisations across the state: dismissal of Sandeep Singh from the position of a minister.

They said that law was being used in a selective manner amounting to denial of justice to the complainant woman by causing harassment and intimidating her into submission.

The protesters included Capt Shamsher Singh Malik, Prof Manjit Singh, Raj Kumari Dahiya, All India Lawyers’ Union leaders R C Siwach, Deepak Kumar and R S Sathi, Democratic Forum convenor Ranvir Chauhan, Er L S Hooda, Kisan Sabha leaders Karam Chand and Satya Narayan.