Woman Army Officer Alleges Sexual Harassment By Senior Officer

A woman army officer, who had taken part in the Republic Day parade this year to showcase ‘Nari Shakti’, has filed a sexual harassment case against her commanding officer. The woman officer’s father has now written a letter to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar accusing the “higher officials” of giving the accused a “plum posting” in the name of taking action. Though the original complaint was filed nearly two months ago, the committee on sexual harassment of women at workplace met only earlier this month. It has recommended “necessary action” to be initiated against her commanding officer.

Defence sources said that the Army is looking into the matter and “appropriate action” would be taken. The 26-year-old Captain of the Signal Corps is posted at Alwar Military Station in Rajasthan and was commissioned into the Indian Army only in March 2013. “I am the proud father of an Army Officer who marched down the Rajpath this year to showcase ‘woman power’. I am absolutely disappointed today and the reason is that my daughter was sexually harassed by her Commanding Officer and she complained to the higher officials. In the name of taking action, the higher officials gave him a plum posting and before leaving the unit, the commanding officer decided to tarnish the image of my child. Now my little child is trying her best to not let her head drop or shoulders droop,” the letter by her father said. He said that since now his daughter’s complaint has finally come to the internal committee on sexual harassment, he is sure the case will get its well deserved hearing. The complaint comes at a time when there is a renewed debate in the defence echelons about how to increase role of women officers.

Source: indianexpress