Lady dalit sarpanch abducted, beaten up in Odisha for refusal to resign

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, June 24 :

A dalit lady Sarpanch in Odisha, who was allegedly abducted, threatened and manhandled by four ward members from her own panchayat has filed a complaint with the police on Monday night.

According to reports, Ullas Behera (38), sarpanch of Naraj panchayat under the Barang police station in Cuttack district was asked by four ward members of her panchayat to go with them in a car to the Bhubaneswar residence of the Banki MLA to settle a longstanding dispute with regard to her continuance as the sarpanch.

She was taken instead to a lonely spot in Tamando, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, and was allegedly forced to sign documents stating that she has resigned from her post. When she refused,  she was allegedly beaten up and thrown out of the car. She cried for help and a local person Prabhat Behera helped her reach the police station.

She has sustained injuries in her head and waist, reports said

In her complaint, the dalit sarpanch Ms Behera said the four ward members, who had abducted and injured her, had been pressurising her to resign for quite sometime. They had failed in their mission despite several attempts to dislodge her, she said, adding, she agreed to come with them because they said the dispute over her continuance would be settled finally in the presence of the Banki MLA.

The Tamando police have registered a case and are investigating into the matter.