The Officer-in-Charge of Airport Police Station, Sushanta Deb, has been placed under suspension following the intervention of the Tripura High Court over allegations of negligence in registering an FIR and harassment of a woman complainant.

The issue came before the High Court after the woman approached the court alleging that she had submitted a written complaint at Airport Police Station nearly a month earlier, but police allegedly failed to register an FIR despite the complaint revealing a cognizable offence.

Senior advocate Purushottam Roy Barman, representing the petitioner, told reporters that the police had a legal duty to register the case but allegedly did not take the required action. He claimed that instead of recording the FIR, the woman was called to the police station, where she was allegedly detained, intimidated and pressured to withdraw her complaint.

According to the advocate, the woman had also brought the matter to the notice of West Tripura District Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak, but no satisfactory action was taken at that stage.

The matter was heard by the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on Wednesday, following a petition filed by the woman with legal assistance. During the hearing, the court was informed that the FIR had eventually been registered.

Police officials reportedly informed the court that the West District SP had instructed Airport Police Station to register the FIR around 25 days earlier, but the direction was allegedly not implemented. During Thursday’s proceedings, the court was informed about the suspension of OC Sushanta Deb.

The petitioner also alleged that she faced further threats and harassment after approaching the court. Taking serious note of the allegations, the High Court directed police authorities to ensure adequate security for the woman.

The matter is scheduled to be heard again on Friday.