Kerala IPS Officer Says Female Cops Are Sexually Harassed By Male Cops

While women are breaking the glass ceiling and taking up jobs traditionally held by men, it is at the cost of their safety and dignity. This is not only limited to traditional corporate jobs but also those which you’d least expect. For example, retired Kerala IPS officer R Sreelekha has talked about the sexual harassment that female police officers have to go through.

In a recent interview, retired IPS officer R Sreelekha, who is the first female IPS officer in Kerala, spoke about the sexual harassment towards women in the police force. She spoke about incidences where a  female Sub Inspector (SI), would come ask her to rescue her from a Deputy Inspector General (DIG), who was predatory in nature. Sreelekha said that she would have to call the DIG and give excuses as to why the SI wouldn’t be able to see him that day. Sreelekha said that she has heard a DIG say that a woman joining the department would be polluting it. She said that a lot of male colleagues have abused her. They would allegedly call via anonymous numbers but she was able to recognise the voices hurling abuses at her.

Vinaya NA who is the Sub Inspector for the women’s cell said that sexual harassment is an unfortunate reality for many women in the police force. “One should also count the harassment involved in the things they say to you, the lewd comments and language used against you. Apart from actual physical harassment. For instance, a  male official told me, ‘you have not seen proper men’. I have been called thalle (a derogatory term for ‘mother’ in Malayalam) and many other vulgar terms. I have given complaints but there is no use,” she said. Vinaya also agreed with Sreelekha and said that when she complained about the harassment to a Circle Inspector, she was allegedly humiliated further.

Also Read: Madras HC Says, “God Save The Police Department,” Expresses Concern About Sexual Harassment Of Women Officers

She also detailed, “I have been harassed a number of times – once an officer asked me to his quarters alone, another time to go for a raid alone with him – both times I got someone to intervene and avoid it. There was a DySP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) who would keep calling to flirt with me when I would be on duty, on the way to arrest someone. One DySP asked me, ‘Are we not men?’ and I said I didn’t think so. So I believe Sreelekha madam a hundred per cent when she says there is sexual harassment in the police force. There are many victims within the force but no one would speak out.” 

CR Biju, who is the General Secretary of the Kerala Police Officers Association took to Facebook and questioned if Sreelekha ever reported what the DIG was doing to a female SI. He then said that if not, it was irresponsible of Sreelekha to not do so. He then said that by not naming the DIG she is accusing all the officers that held that position during her tenure.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke about Sreelekha’s claim at the Kerala Assembly on February 21. He said that Sreelekha has not spoken to him about this situation. He said that she hasn’t shared any of this information with him. According to reports, he said that action can be taken only if she specifies when the events transpired.

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