Gujarat police official suspended

Ahmedabad, Jan 6 (IANS) A senior Gujarat police official has been suspended after a rape victim complained that he had allegedly helped the accused, the police said Tuesday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Banaskantha (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Cell) S.K. Macwan was suspended Monday following an inquiry into a complaint by the 20-year-old tribal woman from Danta sub-division.

The woman was raped in March 2006 by Parthiji Pala of Malan village near Palanpur, 166 km from here, and the rapist was arrested Feb 14, 2007 after the Gujarat High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

He surrendered before the Palanpur judicial court from where he was arrested and later released on bail. His case was pending with the court since then, said District Superintendent of Police (Banaskantha) D.N. Patel.

According to a first information report (FIR) filed by the victim, Macwan had prepared a misleading summary report to save Parthaji and also allegedly destroyed evidence, the police official said.