Police SI Swagatika Behera’s death: Family stages dharna demanding arrest of G Udayagiri IIC

Phulbani: Family members of G Udayagiri police station’s Sub-Inspector Swagatika Behera, who was found hanging at her quarters yesterday, staged a dharna in front of the police station today demanding arrest of Rebati Sabar, Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of the police station.

Holding the IIC responsible for the death, they also demanded her dismissal from police service.

Though the local Tahasildar, DSP and SDPO reached the place and tried to convince the family members to withdraw the dharna, but in vain.

Mother and brother of the deceased met G Udayagiri SDPO last night and filed an FIR alleging that the IIC was torturing Swagatika mentally, for which she took the extreme step of killing her by hanging herself.

“The IIC used to scold her frequently. Swagatika had told us about the matter over telephone. She was also saying that being unable to bear the torture, she would leave the job,” they alleged and demanded action against the accused.

On the other hand, the SDPO said the allegations levelled against the IIC will be probed.

Swagatika, who hailed from Nirakarpur in Khurda district, was staying alone in her quarters in G Udayagiri. She was posted at G Udayagiri police station, one-and-a-half years ago.

Her neighbours found her hanging from a ceiling with a scarf around her neck, yesterday. A case of unnatural death was registered in this connection.