Midnapore: A police constable was arrested on Sunday evening for allegedly assaulting and molesting a college student while she was returning home from a computer class in the Khirai area of West Midnapore district. The incident has triggered widespread public outrage.The accused has been identified as Biswajit Bhowmik, 30, a resident of Gobardhanpur village in Pingla. Police sources said Bhowmik is a constable attached to the Tamluk Police Lines in East Medinipur.According to local sources, the victim was riding her bicycle back home after class when the accused blocked her path under the cover of darkness and attempted to assault her. Hearing her screams, locals rushed to the spot and caught Bhowmik.Upon receiving information, Pingla MLA Swagata Manna reached the scene. Locals claimed to have recovered the constable’s identity card, police uniform, and some medicines from the spot. Manna subsequently handed him over to the Pingla police. “How could a police personnel commit such an act? I have instructed the police to take strict action,” the MLA said.Following a formal complaint, the constable was arrested and charged with attempted rape and molestation. He was produced before a Midnapore court on Monday, which remanded him in three days’ police custody.
