Ghasipura: People of Ramchandrapur area in Keonjhar district accused the police of meting out excesses on a sweeper who has been arrested in connection with a robbery of `12 lakh from a branch of Bank of India.
The villagers also lodged a case against superintendent of police (SP) Rajesh Pandit at a local court.
According to reports, the police arrested bank’s sweeper Bijay Kumar Mukhi, suspecting his involvement in the case.
Over a hundred people from Belasundari village including women staged an agitation outside Ghasiura police station Wednesday, alleging that the sweeper has been made a scapegoat in the case.
Claiming that the arrest of the sweeper is unjustified, the agitators alleged the cashier Sisir Kumar Nayak had handed over the keys of the bank locker to the sweeper a day before the robbery.
“Why the cashier handed over the key to a sweeper has been a mystery. The matter should be probed thoroughly and impartially. The possibility of the cashier having embezzled the cash should be brought into the purview of investigation,” the agitators said.
The protesters said the police had quizzed the sweeper for five days before arresting him Tuesday.
Instead of ferreting facts about the robbery, the SP and other police officials had severely beaten up the sweeper and hurriedly produced him in a court, the protesters alleged.
The agitating villagers along with Bijay’s family members clamoured for the arrest of the bank manager and the cashier.
Bijay’s wife Juli Muski, said, “My husband has been arrested without any proof against him while he was subjected to brutal torture. If he is really guilty, he should be arrested, but the matter should be probed impartially.”
Anandapur sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Amulya Routray and Ghasipura block chairman Debasish Patra tried to convince the agitating people, but in vain.
However, the SDPO rubbished the allegation, stating Bijay has been arrested on the basis of evidence against him. He evaded the issue of custodial torture.
Further investigation is on while action will be taken only after the probe report is available, he said. PNN