Failure to recognise DIG costs constable 3 slaps

http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/11/top-story/failure-to-recognise-dig-costs-constable-3-slaps/356926.html

KATHMANDU, JUL 11 -

Chief of Mid-Western Regional Police DIG Parbati Thapa Magar on Tuesday slapped a police constable at the domestic terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Constable Bina Darai was slapped three times on her cheeks because she failed to recognise the DIG in civvies and searched her person as an ordinary individual.

The incident occurred at around 8:45am while DIG Thapa Magar was about to board a Buddha Air plane to Nepalgunj, where her office is stationed.

A high-level police official at the TIA, requesting anonymity, said Darai was told to report in writing to her seniors about the “misconduct” DIG Thapa meted out to her. According to the official, the report will be forwarded to the Nepal Police headquarters in a couple of days.

“I didn’t search her body out of disrespect. I failed to recognise her since I am new in the service,” the official quoted Darai as saying. According to him, DIG Thapa Magar charged straight on the constable’s face after she started searching the former’s body.

DIG Thapa Magar, however, was not available for comments. She is one of the two female police officials to have ever reached the position. Bimala Thapa holds the other post. Thapa Magar joined the police as sub-inspector in 1983. She became a DIG in November 2008.