Kolkata Police have arrested one of their own officers — Kabirul Islam, a 50-year-old Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) attached to the 3rd Battalion of the Kolkata Armed Police — for allegedly sexually harassing a 21-year-old woman civic volunteer on duty at the Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja pandal in New Alipore, South Kolkata, according to India Today and NDTV reports. The woman, a civic volunteer deployed for crowd duty, was seated near the pandal's exit gate regulating the flow of departing devotees when the alleged incident took place on the night of October 17, shortly before midnight.

A video of the alleged incident circulated widely on social media and triggered public outrage, after which the volunteer filed a formal complaint. Kolkata Police said in a statement: 'An Assistant Sub-Inspector deployed on duty at Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja pandal was seen inappropriately touching a lady volunteer. The ASI has been arrested and legal action initiated.'

A case has been registered — reportedly under Section 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — and departmental proceedings have also been initiated against the officer, reports said. The volunteer has not been named. The arrest has raised fresh questions about the safety of women personnel deployed on festival duty, with the accused officer himself having been posted at the venue for crowd security. (Sources: India Today; NDTV; NewsX; News Ei Samay)