Tension in Saliasahi as angry residents accuse police of hand in murder

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Jan 10:

Tension prevailed at Nilachakra Nagar under Ward number-26 here on Friday after hundreds of residents of Saliasahi slum agitated in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) here against police involvement in the death of a person this afternoon.

The protestors demanded action against the culprits and asked for a probe against the errant police officer involved in the case.

The Bhubaneswar unit president of BJP women’s wing Bijaylaxmi Mohapatra alleged that Kalandi Behera (28) of Janata Nagar of Saliasahi slum under Ward number- 21 was murdered as he was the prime eye-witness in a molestation case.

An FIR lodged with the Nayapalli Police station in this regard on Thursday stated that BJD candidate Premananda Jena, after winning as Corporator from Ward number-21 defeating BJP candidate Nirmala Senapati, had molested the daughter of Nirmala’s relative yesterday along with his supporters. While they were misbehaving with the girl, Kalandi had managed to record the act on his mobile phone. In revenge, Premananda, Dhanu, Khaga, Tiki, Sudha and Jharia attacked Kalandi today and stabbed him to death inside a community hall at Nilachakra Nagar, Mohapatra alleged. Police had detained two supporters of Premananda, but later freed them, he said.

“Following yesterday’s case, police personnel were deployed at the party office to check any untoward incident. But instead Kalandi was killed. This proves that police are also involved in the case along with Premananda,” Mohapatra alleged.

There is reason to suspect the involvement of police personnel since Nayapalli police moved Kalanadi’s body to the Capital Hospital for autopsy today without informing his family members, she alleged, naming SI Ganesh Pradhan as being responsible for the act.

When contracted, Nayapalli police refuted the allegation saying the death might have happened due to enmity over election violence.

Zone ACP Bishnu Mishra said investigation is on to ascertain the actual reason for the death of Kalandi.