A constable of the newly formed woman battalion of the Bihar Military Police (BMP) is struggling to get her complaint lodged against a male colleague, who is posted with Alamganj police station in Patna City.

The purported victim, Kamla Kumari, submitted a written complaint to the station house officer (SHO) of the Alamganj police station, B.K. Singh, on Saturday. In the complaint, Kamla stated that she was allegedly assaulted by a havildar, Dinesh Jha, her senior, in the barracks on the premises of the police station after a verbal duel over removing a pair of shoes from a bed.

Kamla, a constable of the first company of the battalion stationed at Sasaram in Rohtas district, said Jha also snatched her gold chain and threatened her with dire consequences after she refused to follow his orders.

“A thorough investigation should be conducted and action should be taken against the person concerned,” she stated in the complaint.

Even after lapse of 24 hours, the Alamganj police have failed to lodge an FIR in this connection. The station house officer said the matter was being probed.

“It is a matter of the department and it would be settled,” he said, adding that senior police officers were in touch with the complainant.

Kamla, who hails from Sitamarhi, however, refused to share details about the assault on the plea that it would affect her career. “I don’t want to talk to the media. I have conveyed my grievances to my seniors,” she said over the phone.

Sources said Kamla was under tremendous pressure after she submitted the written complaint to the station house officer. Her woman colleague Manita, who was not on good terms with Kamla, came out openly in favour of Jha, who denied the charges levelled against him.

“Both Kamla and Manita were quarrelling over keeping a pair of shoes on a bed. I intervened to settle the dispute. But Kamla accused me of siding with Manita and shouted at me. I tried to calm her down but in vain,” Jha said, adding that he immediately apprised the SHO of the incident.

SHO Singh, who also holds the charge of the sub-divisional police officer of Patna City after the transfer of additional superintendent of police Chandan Kushwaha in March, said justice would be done with the complainant and the accused. “Don’t blow the issue out of proportion,” he said.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said he has asked city superintendent of police (Patna) Jayant Kant to conduct an investigation and submit a report. “Action will be initiated against the erring cop on the basis of the SP’s report,” he added.