CRPF DIG accused of sexual harassment, government starts dismissal proceedings

The central government has started the process of dismissing a DIG rank officer of CRPF. The officer was accused of sexual harassment by several women CRPF personnel. On the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission, the Home Ministry has started the process of dismissing the accused officer.

The Home Ministry has issued a notice to the accused officer and sought a reply within 15 days. After receiving the reply, the Home Ministry will issue the dismissal order. The officer against whom dismissal proceedings are underway is CRPF Deputy Inspector General Khajan Singh. Presently he is posted in Mumbai. The internal committee of CRPF had investigated Khajan Singh and the allegations against the officer were found to be true in the investigation. The committee sent the investigation report to CRPF Headquarters, from where it has been sent to the Union Public Service Commission. Now the Home Ministry is taking action on the recommendation of UPSC.

The Home Ministry has issued a dismissal order in one of the two cases involving the accused officer. The second case continues to be investigated. Khajan Singh was the CRPF's Chief Sports Officer. In the 200-meter swimming competition during the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, Khajan Singh took home the silver medal. India won its first swimming medal since 1951 with this one. Khajan Singh has refuted the accusations leveled against him, stating that they are a plot to damage his reputation. Presently, the CRPF employs 3.25 lakh people. In the CRPF, women were assigned to combat roles for the first time in 1986. There are roughly 8,000 women working in its six female soldier battalions.