Shillong, March 14: A senior rank Indian Army officer of the Shillong based Assam Regimental Centre (ARC) has been accused of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation by the wife of his junior officer.
The complainant, wife of a Colonel rank officer, filed a formal complaint at Madanrting Police Station on March 10, 2025, detailing multiple incidents of alleged misconduct, including inappropriate remarks, physical intimidation, and threats by the accused – a Brigadier rank officer.
According to the complaint, the alleged harassment took place on the night of March 8, 2025, during a dining function at the Officers’ Mess of the Assam Regimental Centre. The victim stated that the accused repeatedly approached her with inappropriate comments and continued his advances despite her clear disinterest. The situation escalated when he allegedly used abusive language and attempted to physically charge at her, an act that was prevented by her husband.
She also mentioned an earlier incident, a house-warming dinner hosted by another officer on April 13, 2024, where the accused allegedly made inappropriate remarks, including “Why do you dress to kill?” In yet another incident, on July 13, 2024, the victim accused the senior officer of attempting to hold her hand forcefully in front of her husband during dinner at her house.
Following the formal complaint, police have registered a cognizable case against the officer under Section 75(2) (sexual harassment), Section 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The victim further stated that the delay in filing of the complaint was because she was traumatized by the incident, and it took her time to normalise and formally write this complaint. The victim has also expressed fear for her life, outrage of her modesty and sexual harassment due to the accused being her immediate neighbour.
Meanwhile, Indian Army is yet to make any statement on the issue.