Baripada: Mayurbhanj Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) has suspended the pharmacist who was accused of taking photographs on the steps of the President’s helicopter during her tour to this district, an official said Monday.
CDMO Dr Rupabhanu Mishra suspended pharmacist Jashobanta Behera for taking selfies with the President’s chopper and posting them on Facebook, the official said.
Behera was deployed as part of a medical team for the President’s visit to Similipal National Park May 5.
“I posted a few photos on my Facebook account only for the sake of memory and fun. I had no other intention of doing so. I took verbal permission from some Air Force personnel engaged to guard the helicopter. As such a great personality like the President Madam had come to the district and I was on duty at the helipad, I wanted to keep the photos as a memory,” the pharmacist said.
Behera claimed that he later deleted the pictures from his Facebook account.
According to a source, when President Droupadi Murmu visited the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district Friday, the chemist took pictures while standing near and sitting on the steps of the President’s helicopter.
Later, he shared the pictures 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.
Earlier, lights went off during President Droupadi Murmu’s address at the 12th convocation of the Maharaja Shri Ramchandra Bhanjadeo University May 6 plunging the venue into darkness.
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.
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 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.
PNN & Agencies