Usasi Mishra blasts cops, management for inaction

Bhubaneswar:  Odia actress Usasi Mishra, who was allegedly assaulted by three persons prior to her show in a jatra in Angul on Sunday night, blamed cops and jatra firm’s management for not taking action against the main accused even after three days of the incident.

Addressing a press meet here along with members of the cine artists’ association, the actress demanded immediate arrest of the main accused Indramani Sahoo and his two sons, who according to her, had assaulted and tried to molest her publicly.

“Even after three days of the incident the police hasn’t arrested the main accused. So, it shows, in some way the police is delaying and protesting the perpetrators,” she alleged.

Usasi also expressed displeasure over the action taken by her employer Eastern Blue Opera saying the management should be more concerned about the security of its artists.

“It’s the responsibility of jatra management and organising committee to provide adequate security to artists like us, otherwise, I will stay away from performing with this jatra troupe,” the actress added asking why there was no security for me and my other associates despite a huge gathering of over 12,000 people.

Usasi further alleged that Indramani and his sons threatened to rape and shoot her.

In reply, the Eastern Blue Opera management has said that providing security to artists is a top priority for them and they will strengthen it, if necessary.

“What happened with an actor like Usasi Mishra is completely out of imagination and really unfortunate. We will be extremely careful and watchful about such incidents in the future,” said Eastern Blue Opera Chief Executive Officer Malaya Mishra.

Notably, Usasi reached Derang village in Kaniha on Sunday night in her car to perform in a jatra show but her path was blocked by a crowd.

Most of people in the crowd were in an inebriated condition. On seeing the artiste, Indramani allegedly passed some obscene comments which infuriated Usasi.Usasi then came out of her car and slapped Indramani which led to tension in the area. Later, Indramani and his two sons arrived near the stage and assaulted the cine artiste in full public view.

Following this, the actress lodged a complaint at Kaniha Police Station accusing Indramani and his two sons of manhandling her and other crew members.

The next day, police arrested Indramani’s driver Dusmanta Behera, who was also present during the incident, as the main accused was absconding.

The press meet was attended by veteran actors Bijay Mohanty, Asit Pati, Biju Badajena, Anu Choudhury, Pinky Pradhan, MP Siddhant Mohapatra, Poonam Mishra, Sofia Alam and others. The association also said they would advise their members whenever they visit places for events they should ensure enough security arrangements made for them.