HARIPUR, April 25: An executive district officer (education) and his companions have been accused of criminally assaulting a lady officer. The allegation was levelled by Mohammad Arif, the husband of the victim at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday evening.

Accompanied by an office-bearer of a religious party, a component of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Mr Arif claimed that on April 2, 2004, his wife who worked as deputy district officer, primary education, returned home in a semi-conscious condition.

She told him that the EDO (education), a schoolteacher, and his accomplices had given her some sedatives and then raped her. Mr Arif said that when he tried to bring the matter to the notice of higher authorities and police, his wife stopped him from doing so, saying that the EDO had threatened her with departmental action if she lodged a complaint.

He alleged that the EDO had prepared a false case against his wife and removed her from the post. When she requested him to reinstate her, she was made to stay in the office late and was subjected to the torture.

He said that he had lodged a written complaint with the district police officer for registration of a case against the EDO. He said he had also approached the police station concerned and requested action against the official. However, he regretted that no action had been taken so far.

He said that due to pressures and blackmailing, his wife had left home. He said that his wife had even threatened to lodge a case against him if he continued to press for registration of the case against the education officials.

Meanwhile, the city police station has registered a case against Mohammad Arif under section 107 PPC on a complaint from his wife who has accused him of beating her. The EDO concerned was not available for comments.