IPS Association slams AR for 'maligning image of IPS officer'

New Delhi, January 23 (IANS): Blame game continues on last Sunday's incident of alleged physical assault and molestation of a woman IPS officer at a check post near Moreh town in Manipur's Tengnoupal district with the IPS officers' Association now accusing the Assam Rifles of "maligning" her image.


The IPS Officer's Association (Manipur Chapter), chaired by President P. Doungel, in a meeting attended by representatives of IAS Association and IFS Association on Wednesday extended its support to the officers of Manipur Police service.


The meeting deliberated on the incident and the consequent press release issued by the Assam Rifles over the incident, and considered it "highly unprofessional and malicious.


In a press note issued on Thursday, the association mentioned that Assam Rifles should extend full cooperation to the investigation. "The association resolves to extend its full support, moral and financial to the further course of action which the officer shall choose to follow. The association reposes its faith in the special investigation team and hopes law will take its course," the note said.


The association's remarks came after Assam Rifles in a statement on Tuesday rejected the molestation and physical assault allegation, calling it "baseless and fabricated", and blamed her for "illegally entering Myanmar". Three days after the incident, the Assam Rifles issued a statement and said that the IPS officer entered Myanmar while she was on official duty and bought suspicious and unidentified goods from across the border (Namphalong/Tamu).
The paramilitary force had claimed that it has the video footage of the IPS officer entering Myanmar and subsequently loading her "so-called official vehicle" with suspicious goods, which exposed her "blatant lie" in her complaint that she was on official duty.


"Can a Central government servant on bona fide duty cross over to Myanmar flaunting all FMR (Federal Management Regulation) rules and then cover her allegations on pretext of official duty? It needs investigation," the statement said.