A Kolkata Police assistant sub-inspector has been arrested and suspended after a woman volunteer alleged that he sexually harassed her while deployed for security duty outside the Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja pandal in New Alipore. The complaint led to a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to a report by Sanmarg.
The accused officer has been identified as Kabirul Hasan Mondal, 50, posted with the ‘B’ Company of the Kolkata Armed Police’s Third Battalion. The alleged incident took place near the exit gate of the Suruchi Sangha pandal between 11 pm and 11.30 pm on October 17, 2026, when the woman was performing her duty as a puja volunteer.
According to the complaint cited in the report, the woman alleged that the police officer made inappropriate physical contact with her. A video connected to the incident subsequently circulated on social media, drawing attention to the complaint and prompting action within the police department.
The woman approached New Alipore police station on the following day and lodged a formal complaint against the officer. Police registered a case under the applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested Mondal. The report said that the officer’s family members were informed of the arrest in accordance with procedure.
The incident occurred during Durga Puja, when large crowds gather at prominent pandals and police personnel, volunteers and civic workers are deployed to manage entry, exit and public safety. The reported location was the exit gate of one of New Alipore’s well-known puja venues, where volunteers assist with crowd movement and visitor management.
Lalbazar, Kolkata Police headquarters, has suspended the accused officer, according to the report. Police officials said the investigation was being conducted impartially and that further legal action would follow in accordance with the law.
The case places attention on the conduct and accountability of personnel assigned to public-facing festival duties. While the arrest follows the woman’s complaint, the allegations remain subject to investigation and the legal process. The police have not disclosed the specific statutory provisions cited in the case in the material available for this report.
The investigation by New Alipore police is the next official step. Further action will depend on the evidence gathered and the progress of the case under the applicable legal procedure.
