Cuttack: People are losing confidence on the state police due to wrongdoings and nonchalant attitude of some security officials, claimed a few social activists and intellectuals.
They cited several incidents of the recent past where people took the law into their own hands as the police failed to do justice to their duty.
In a case which exemplifies the negligence of the state police, one Abinash Paital of Balana village was detained by the Mahakalpara police in Kendrapara district August 25 on charges of stealing a cell phone. Paital’s hanging body was recovered from an abandoned house near the police station August 26. The Director General of Police (DGP) RP Singh suspended the inspector in-charge (IIC) of Mahakalpara police station and ordered a Crime Branch (CB) probe into the incident.
In a separate case, a police vehicle was set on fire and at least five security personnel sustained injuries when an angry mob clashed with the police at Narendrapur under Nemal police limits in Cuttack district. Failure of the police to pacify a scuffle between a trolley-puller and a local youth resulted in the violent clash August 27.
The administration had to deploy seven platoons of armed police personnel and impose Section 144 of the IPC to restore law and order at the village.
In a similar case, some security personnel of Chauliaganj police in Cuttack had a tussle with an advocate over a road mishap August 28. It was alleged that the police had assaulted the lawyer. Protesting the incident, lawyers in Cuttack and many other places across the state have launched a cease work agitation. Deputy Commissioner of police (DCP), Cuttack Akhilesvar Singh has suspended three personnel of Chauliaganj police in connection with the incident.
Taking up two separate cases on the issue, the Orissa High Court has sought a report from the state government.
In another case, Tangi police in Cuttack district had arrested one Balaram Nayak on charges of killing his wife a few days ago. However, Nayak had slit his throat and a vein in his hand with a blade while in police custody, before he was to be forwarded to the court. Nayak was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital. The police are yet to give any satisfactory explanation as to how Nayak managed to find a blade while in police custody.
“The Odisha police has failed to win the confidence of people of Odisha. Imposing Section 144 of the IPC and suspending a few officials is not the solution. People are taking law and order into their hands due to callousness and highhandedness of the police. The state government is facing criticism from various quarters due to the alleged wrongdoings of some security officials,” said Orissa High Court lawyer Khirod Rout.
Commenting on the issue, senior advocate Prasanna Kumar Nanda put emphasis on proper training to security personnel. “Police should be imparted proper training to deal with public. They should change their attitude towards common people. They must not try to suppress citizens, rather they should lend their ears to genuine grievances,” he suggested.
Echoing the sentiment, noted social activist Achyuta Kumar Sahu said that some police officials are acting as per their personal whims and sweet will while dealing with public and maintaining law and order. “Police officials should act in accordance with the law. They must not misuse the power bestowed on them,” he added.
Cuttack rural superintendent of police Madhab Chandra Sahu has stated that an order to probe the suicide attempt of the murder acuused has been issued. “The law and order situation at Narendrapur has improved a lot since the incident where locals had set a police van on fire,” he added.
DGP RP Sharma said, “We have sent a DSP rank official of the CB to probe the Mahakalpara incident in Kendrapara.”
PNN