This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

The Chhattisgarh Official Who Alleged Police Torture On Minor Girls In A Facebook Post, Has Been Suspended

Apparently, it was "violation of service rules".
The officials have cited 'indiscipline' for transferring her.
Varsha Dongre/Facebook
The officials have cited 'indiscipline' for transferring her.

The Chhattisgarh government has suspended state prison official Varsha Dongre after her post on Facebook, alleging torture of tribal women by the security forces in the state's Maoist insurgency-hit Bastar region.

Dongre had irked the authorities with her social media post raising questions about a model of governance that allows for alleged harassment of tribal people in the state.

However, the officials have cited 'indiscipline' for transferring her.

"Ms. Varsha Dongre has been suspended and charge-sheeted after it was found in a preliminary inquiry that her conduct was in violation of service rules and other rules," Girdhari Nayak, the director general of police (jail administration) told The Hindu.

Last week, Dongre had posted on Facebook that she had seen tribal girls being stripped at police stations in Bastar and tortured.

"I am a witness to the torture of minor tribal girls ... In the police stations, women personnel have stripped and tortured girls as old as 14 and 16 ... They were given electric shock on their hands and breasts. I have seen the marks ... I was horrified ... Why third-degree torture on minors? I have given directions for their treatment", she wrote.

The state prison official's comments in the wake of the Maoist attack on CRPF jawans in Sukma district of the state. The jail department had then ordered a probe, based on her allegations.

Dr KK Gupta, another official, told ToI that Dongre didn't appear for any explanation nor for her duty while the probe was on. "Deputy jail superintendent Varsha Dongre was suspended by Chhattisgarh government for her indiscipline and objectionable posts on Facebook which is violation of jail manual under Section 207 and code of conduct of civil services," Gupta said.

Dongre is known to be an upright officer. She had approached the Chhattisgarh High Court in the PSC scam case in 2007. Based on a Right to Information application filed by her, action was taken against top PSC officials, accused of irregularities and corruption.

Also see on HuffPost:

Vinod Khanna: A Style Icon

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.