In yet another blow to the image of Haryana Police, a Station House Officer (SHO) was arrested on Thursday on charges of raping a woman who had come to him for protection.Inspector Jai Singh, SHO of a police station in Karnal, was also suspended and an inquiry marked against him. Senior Superintendent of Police, Karnal, A S Chawla, said it was this morning that Pooja from Bibi Jatanpur village of Indri accused the SHO of raping her in his quarters near the police station. Pooja had a runaway marriage with Mewa Singh of Asandh. Fearing opposition from their families, the two had moved a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for protection. Pooja used to meet her parents at the Nissing police station where Inspector Jai Singh was the SHO. She alleged that today when she went to the police station, he lured her into his quarters and raped her. Tempers ran high as a large number of villagers gheraoed the police station and raised slogans against the SHO. The situation was brought under control only when SSP A S Chawla and SDM Rajiv Mehta reached the spot and ordered medical examination of the girl. Later, the SHO was arrested on charges of rape. DSP, Karnal, Sudhir Bhoria, has been entrusted with the case.Incidentally, this is the second case in the last few weeks when Haryana policemen have been accused of rape. Earlier, two policemen of Rohtak were arrested in mid-May, more than a month after allegedly raping Sarita, who later committed suicide.
