Odisha SI suspended for misbehaving with Good Samaritan auto driver

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Feb 9:

A Sub-Inspector (SI) of the Mahila police station was suspended today for dereliction in duty and misbehaving with an autorickshaw driver, who had requested her to lodge an FIR about two girls assaulted by a labour contractor in the Odisha capital late on February 7 night.

SI Suchismita Das of Mahila police station had allegedly misbehaved with auto driver Shivram Swain of Berhampur, presently staying in Baramunda area on February 7 night when the driver requested her to register the FIR by the two girls, one of them a minor, who were molested by a labour contractor in Tamando area on the outskirts of the city.

Swain had an argument with the SI when she refused to lodge an FIR against the contractor. It was alleged that the irate police officer had slapped the auto driver during the altercation.

Following the incident, several auto drivers and activists had rushed to the Mahila police station the same night and demanded appropriate action against the police officer. The agitators called off the demonstration in front of the police station only after getting an assurance from Mahila police station IIC Bijayinee Malla.

After an inquiry into the fracas, Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma today suspended the SI for dereliction of duty.

Meanwhile, the Mahila police have arrested the labour contractor Deepak Subudhi of Tamando area for molesting the girls kept in a house (plot no-483) in the same locality.

Police sources said Subudhi had brought the girls from Bhadrak district seven days ago by promising them good jobs. He kept the duo in a house and molested them. The girls had somehow managed to escaped from the house on February 7 night and headed towards the Baramunda bus stand.

Auto rickshaw driver Swain, who saw the girls were crying in front of the Kali Mandir near Baramunda bus stand, talked with the girls and assured them help. He took them to the Mahila police station where he had an argument with the SI about lodging of an FIR against the Subudhi.

Mahila police have registered a case (No 61) and slapping charges under sections 341, 294, 354 (A), 506 of IPC and 8 POCSO act 2012 against the accused Deepak Subudhi and will forward him to a local court today.