Balanga police station blast: Woman Sub-inspector placed under suspension

Puri: Two days after a massive explosion took place inside the Balanga police station in Puri district damaging the building severely, SP Kanwar Vishal Singh today suspended Sub-Inspector Tapoi Nayak for ‘negligence in duty’.

The woman cop was in charge of Malkhana (store room) at the police station.  Pipili SDPO Debadutta Baral informed about her suspension.

Also Read: Odisha: Massive Explosion Inside Balanga Police Station In Puri Almost Razes Building [Watch]

Late night on September 27, a massive explosion took place inside the Balanga police station, following which roof and a portion of wall caved in under its impact. Many documents, devices and furniture were also destroyed in the fire. Fortunately, few police personnel, who were present there at that time, escaped unhurt.

Also Read: Balanga police station blast: BJP, BJD react [Watch Video]

Following the mishap, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra demanded an impartial probe into the incident.

“Gang war and bombing are being reported in Pipili area for a long time. Recently, a bomb was hurled at BJP office at Satasankha, which was reported,” he said questioning, “Where police themselves are not safe, how can they ensure safety of the people?”

In reaction, senior BJD leader and Minister Samir Dash had suspected that seized explosives and solar batteries stored in the Malkhana might have led to the explosion. The mishap had nothing to do with the Pipili by-election, he added.

Following the blast, all police stations have been directed to either defuse the seized explosives or store them in a safer place to avoid such incident.

The Balanga police station is now operating from a temporary building and very soon, fund will be sought to construct a new building for the PS, said an official.