Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil today suspended two police officers of Ahmednagar for allegedly assaulting a woman in January.
The woman was assaulted by the officers, who refused to register an FIR against her alleged kidnappers.
"This morning, I have given the order to suspend both the officers and an inquiry into the case is on," he said, replying to a question of Neelam Gorhe (Shiv Sena) in the Legislative Council.
Gorhe said the 19-year-old woman was on way to Shirdi from Pune along with her fiance when she was kidnapped by anti-social elements, who forced her into flesh trade.
When she approached the Ahmednagar police to lodge a complaint against the accused persons, the officers refused to register an FIR and assaulted her.
An order has been given to suspend the officers, Patil said and assured the House that stern action will be taken against the culprits.
The woman, on her way to Shirdi from Pune with her fiance, was allegedly abducted by unidentified persons at Ahmednagar and taken to a brothel in Dhule on January 3, where she was allegedly beaten up by the brothel-keeper for refusing to enter into flesh trade.
The woman, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, had come to meet her fiance, who hails from her native place and lives in Pune.
In her complaint, the woman said that they were going to the Shirdi temple in a four-wheeler, when, in Ahmednagar, four unidentified persons, a woman and three men, gagged and abducted her near a mall where they had stopped.
Patil also informed the House that the government will conduct awareness workshops with help of advocates who have conducted trial in women-related crimes.
The government has received two reports of the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee (set up to suggest guidelines for dealing with crimes against women), he said.
"We are waiting for the third report. After receiving it, the government will decide on implementation of recommendations made by the committee," he added.
