FIR lodged against IAF Wing Comdr for sexually harassing female pilot

STATE TIMESNEWS

JAMMU: J&K Police has registered an FIR against an IAF Wing Commander, namely M Karpal, presently posted at Air Force Station Jammu under relevant sections of IPC for sexual harassing a female Pilot on the rank of Sqdn Leader.
The FIR has been lodged at Police Station Satwari Jammu on complaint of a female Sqn Leader and is being investigated by SHO Satwari Nishant Gupta.
It has been learnt from Police sources that female Pilot appeared before the Magistrate in Jammu Court and gave her statement. As per FIR, it has been alleged that victim was posted in Air Force Station Jammu where accused Wing Commander M Karpal was her Flight Commander and has committed acts of unwelcome and inappropriate touching, leading to assault and sexual harassment. He also passed sexually coloured and lewd remarks, which under law are offences under Sections 354, 354 A and 509 IPC.
“To the utter shock of my life, he crossed all limits. Accused touched me on my shoulder from behind and made lewd remarks with lustful eyes and demeanour ‘Le Tujhe Touch Kiya Ab Kaise Karegi Apne Aap Ko Sanitise’. I didn’t feel comfortable but didn’t know how to react as I had not expected this response.” the victim alleged as per FIR. “The said touch was unwelcome, extremely unsolicited and an assault on the dignity of the complainant being a lady officer,” the complainant added.
The victim Sqdn leader has further alleged in her complaint, “That evening also, the accused tried to cross his limits and passed a lewd and sexually coloured remark/comment. Isko Hath Lagao Toh Current Lagta Hai. I firmly told him not to pass such lewd comments to which the accused responded, ‘Are Hum Toh Dost Hain'” She further alleged, “On December 11, 2020, he asked the CO to give me a written order to proceed in service aircraft without my son, while he was aware that I was nursing my child and my infant child takes mother’s feed. Still his tortures were unabated and when I conveyed my constraints and also the fact that despite of other crew availability why he asked me to go, he created a hostile work environment by his tortures only with an intent to break me, so that I would succumb to his pressures of authority and satisfy his sexual urges regarding which he was making innuendoes.” The FIR also mentioned about other incidents of sexual harassment by accused Wing Cdr. Police is investigating the matter but the accused has not been arrested till now.