The video of the assault by the women cops went viral on social media
Two women constables of the Mumbai Police have been suspended for misconduct after they were caught on camera, assaulting a young woman following an argument over entry into one of the city's most famous Ganesh pandals, Lalbaug cha Raja in central Mumbai.
A departmental inquiry is possible against the constables, Varsha Patil and Anuradha Solunkhe, whose brutality led to a massive outrage. The police are now studying CCTV footage from the area to piece together what exactly happened.
"The constables also hit the victim at the police station. Varsha Patil and Anuradha Solunkhe from the Local Arms division III have been suspended," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told NDTV.
21-year-old Nandini Goswami was repeatedly beaten and dragged as she tried to enter the pandal through the VIP Gate. Later the police also slapped a case on her under The Bombay Police Act.
Speaking to NDTV, Ms Goswami had said, "My mother's dress was torn, which made me shout at them. So a female constable started beating us. It went on continuously for about 30 minutes. And at the police station, they beat us for another hour."
The suspensions come after a preliminary enquiry completed in less than 24 hours. The probe was ordered by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had given the police 48 hours to submit their report.
The Mumbai Police has made it very clear that whatever may have been the provocation, if any, the women constables unruly behavior cannot be justified. They hope this prompt action will help restore faith in the public that the keepers of law are for and not against them.