Probe begins into Odisha CM tripping on Friday

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 19:

Agencies responsible for Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s security have initiated an inquiry to ascertain the factors that led to the Chief Minister losing his balance and tripping while climbing up to the dais during the inauguration of a mobile application for women’s security.

Patnaik stumbled over the stairs and was about to fall off when the personal security officer (PSO) intervened just in time and prevented him from falling off. The Chief Minister escaped unhurt.

The story was carried by ‘Sambad’—Odisha’s leading vernacular daily—which prompted the authorities to review the circumstances that led to the embarrassing moment.

The security personnel have sourced the CCTV footage to have a closer look at the incident and go into the minute details that caused near-mishap.

In the recent past, several incidents have pointed fingers towards lax security arrangements for the Chief Minister.

The PSO of the Chief minister was found dozing off on duty behind the Chief Minister during a public meeting. Amid much brouhaha in the media, the said officer was asked to explain. However, the matter was soon brushed under the carpet.

In another incident, the commissionerate police was subjected to all round criticism over security breach of the Chief Minister’s cavalcade in which Youth Congress activists had broken the security cordon and pelted eggs on the motorcade. Several heads rolled before the matter was put to rest.