Blot on khaki: Odisha DGP directs probe into devotees’ molestation in Puri

Bhubaneswar: Odisha DGP this evening directed Puri SP to investigate into the alleged molestation of women devotees during Sandhya Darshan of the Lords at Gundicha Temple in Puri yesterday.

“Based on the post on Facebook and reports in the electronics and print media regarding alleged molestation of a medical student in Puri during darshan of Lord Jagannath, I have directed Dr Sarthak Sarangi, SP, Puri to register an FIR in Kumbharpada police station under appropriate sections and get it investigated under his supervision,” DGP KB Singh wrote in his letter to Sarangi.

Notably, a medico student shared her harrowing experience where women were groped inappropriately in front of her during the Sandhya Darshan on social networking site.

“Just returning from Puri. I am very very disheartened seeing the scenario here. It’s like I didn’t want to create a mess there but I just couldn’t control myself. Ladies are misbehaved like hell. There are some OAFs and police who were touching the private areas of girls. I don’t know what this world has come to. I am actually ashamed that such things especially happen in Puri dham. I really don’t know what I did was right or not. I lost my patience then. Holding his collar, I slapped him thrice. Not only this, complained his name to the SP as well,” the woman wrote on her Facebook wall.

“It’s not that this is something rare. It’s happens with a girl often. But if we keep quiet like this, people will keep doing such ridiculous things again and again. I can’t stop everyone. I really can’t. But I am happy that after all this some girls, an old woman and a handicapped man thanked me. I couldn’t see Lord Jagannath though because of the rush and all those shit. But above everything those blessings I got from them counts even more. Please be very very careful when you are visiting some temple or a crowded place,” the post read.

At the end of the post, she clarified that she wasn’t the victim. Rather, it was two other girls and an aged woman who have been misbehaved by the cop.

Meanwhile, politicking has begun post the incident as Mahila Morcha of BJP has sought transfer of Puri SP over the incident. Besides, it threatened to protest Chief Minister at all his programmes at various places.

“We demand the policeman who molested women to be behind bars by tomorrow morning or else we would protest against Chief Minister at all his programmes,” BJP Mahila Morcha President Prabhati Parida threatened.