Baripada: Another alleged security lapse came to the fore during President Droupadi Murmu’s three-day visit to Odisha following several minutes power outage incident at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Mayurbhanj district.
According to a source, when Murmu visited the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district Friday, a chemist identified as Jaswant Behera, who was on duty at the helipad, allegedly took pictures while standing near and sitting on the steps of the President’s helicopter.
Later, Behera shared the picture on social media. However, after much outrage, he deleted them.
According to reports, Murmu had arrived at Chheligodhuli helipad close to Jashipur and travelled to Similipal by car. Ahead of her arrival, the park was closed for visitors May 4 and 5.
In the power snag incident, security experts questioned why Murmu had not been taken away to a safer location during the university’s power glitch.
The lights went off only a few minutes into the President’s speech, but she still went on as the venue’s microphone equipment remained unaffected.
The university administration suspended electrician Jayant Tripathy for the power glitch. A three-member committee consisting of university’s registrar, PG council chairman, and the development officer, has been tasked to probe the incident.
Questions were raised as the basic security arrangements meant for keeping India’s first citizen safe went for a toss.
Previously, on the law and order front, several opposition leaders took on the state government after the assassination of former Health Minister Naba Das in Jharsuguda January 29, 2023.
PNN