Cop assault on pregnant woman: Centre seeks ATR from Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bramhapur, Jan 12:

Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sought an action taken report (ATR) from the Odisha government on an allegation made by a woman that she delivered a still born baby after being kicked by a police officer at Patrapur village in Ganjam district.

Releasing a copy of the Centre’s letter to the media here on Sunday, senior BJP leader Ram Chandra Panda, who had written to the Centre about the reported incident, said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the state Home secretary to provide details of the incident and the action taken against the police officer concerned. 

Panda, a former deputy speaker of the state Assembly, had written letters to the Centre and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about the incident, which had allegedly taken place at Patrapur under Jarada police station limits in Ganjam district over two months ago.

Mami Adhikari (26) had delivered a stillborn baby at MKCG Medical College Hospital here on November 17, 2014 as she fell down after being allegedly kicked by the inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Jarada police station.

The IIC Jarada had gone to Mami’s house on October 25, 2014 in search of her husband Kunja Adhikari, who was involved in an old case; Kunja was arrested from his house and was released on November 15.

Mami staged a dharna in front of the office of the DIG (Southern Range) seeking action against the IIC after which DIG (Southern Range) Amitabh Thakur directed the deputy superintendent of police, Human Rights, Brahmapur to inquire into the matter.