Nitish transfers policemen after stripping of woman in public

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday reshuffled the state's top police brass following an alleged assault and stripping of a woman by a group of men here. The incident shocked the nation.

Fourteen Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, including the inspector general of police, and the deputy inspector general have been transferred.

Top police officers in Patna, including district and city police chiefs, have been removed and posted at different places.

Fourteen deputy superintendents of police have also been transferred.

The reshuffle of the police brass is being seen as a damage control exercise after the opposition and women's rights activists criticised the government for alleged lawlessness in the state.

A group of men had abused, assaulted and then stripped a woman in her 20s in full public view at a busy road in Patna on Thursday evening.

A police team was reportedly present at the site and watched the attack on the woman for nearly an hour before taking the culprits to the police station.

Assistant sub-inspector Shiv Nath Singh, who was in charge of patrolling the area, has already been suspended for not helping the woman in time.

The woman was identified as a resident of Jesidih, a town in the neighbouring state Jharkhand. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Punaichak here, had lured her to Patna with a promise of providing a job to her.

Soon after she came, Rakesh allegedly forced her to have sex with his friends. She ran away from the hotel where she had been staying with him for the last few days. However, Rakesh and his friends caught up with her and attacked her.

Police have arrested Rakesh, who is said to be involved in the flesh trade.