Baripada: Ambiguities over jurisdiction between Town police and Sadar police Monday left a woman’s body lying abandoned for 19 hours before a case was registered and post-mortem done.
The tug of war between two police stations made the kin of the deceased run from pillar to post to complete the post-death formalities, it was learnt.
Finally, on being directed by a senior officer, Sadar police officials registered a case of unnatural death and conducted a post-mortem of the body.
According to reports, Mangulu Dehuri and his wife Sombari, a labourer couple, of Nichuapada area under Sadar police limits in Mayurbhanj, lived in Beli village under Jaleswar police limits in Balasore district. Manglu, in a fit of rage, hit his wife with a wooden plank Saturday night over a domestic row. Sombari was rushed to hospital in Jaleswar with critical injuries. Later, on the advice of doctors, she was shifted to Baripada district headquarters hospital Sunday at about 3 pm. However, she succumbed at 10 pm.
The DHH authorities informed Town police to register a case and conduct a post-mortem of the body. However, the police didn’t take any action, saying the case didn’t come under their jurisdiction. The incident took place under Jaleswar police limits and the husband of the deceased is a native under Sadar police limits, they argued.
Sombari’s brother Nilakantha and his family members were seen waiting endlessly to complete the formalities as her husband was detained by Sadar police. “We are made to suffer due to the dispute between these two police stations,” Nilakantha said.
Later, on being directed by SDPO Abhimanyu Nayak, Sadar IIC Tilottama Rout registered a case and sent the body for post mortem.
According to rules, Town police should take up the case, IIC Rout said, adding, she only followed the order of her senior officer.
“There is no humanity in our society,” a senior officer of DSP rank in district police headquarters said under the condition of anonymity. PNN
