Kendrapara: Several high-profile criminal cases – including murders, firing incidents and even serious charges against cops – being buried under bureaucratic rigmarole in this district have significantly eroded the citizens’ faith in police administration. While unresolved cases leave victims waiting for justice for eternity, the men in khaki face tough challenges in maintaining peace and harmony, according to reports.
Instances of cops in this district sitting tight on pending files are many.
In a recent incident, Ajay Sahu, a havildar posted at Kudanagari police station, had allegedly made unsolicited romantic advances towards a vulnerable woman under Marshaghai police station. The cop also threatened her with life, if she refused to buzz. Audio and video recordings of the incident had gone viral on social media. A complaint was lodged, but action was too little – Sahu was only suspended and was not arrested till date. The fence-eating-the-crop incident has not only raised concerns about women’s safety, but also put a question mark on police accountability.
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Similarly, a tragic case unfolded in Kathiapada village under Pattamundai rural police station August 6, when a student, Sangita Parida, died by self-immolation. While the police are yet to conclude the probe, they have arrested her male friend Pramod Behera from Terohi village. He was remanded to judicial custody after obscene videos were found on his mobile phone. However, critical questions linger – the source of the petrol used in the incident, the cause of Sangita’s death, and whether Pramod is the prime accused. An assistant sub-inspector from the police station, accused of negligence, was merely transferred to district headquarters, inviting public criticism over lenient action.
In yet another instance of unresolved cases, the death of Kasturi Samantaray, a talented student and athlete from Sanaadhanga under Derabish police station, still remains a mystery. Kasturi died in November 2017, the day after returning from a sports camp in Rajkanika. Allegations had come to the fore about the misconduct by a sports teacher and a staffer during the camp. The incident sparked protests by social activists and other organisations. An investigation led by then-Inspector General Soumendra Priyadarshi is yet to yield results, leaving Kasturi’s death an enduring enigma.
Moreover, on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2015, seven Dalit women and a student in Namatara village under Rajkanika police station were allegedly shot and beaten by police during protests against illegal liquor sales. Over 200 others were reportedly assaulted. The state government ordered an inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), but despite recording of statements of eyewitnesses seven years ago, the report is yet to be published. More so, the victims are yet to receive any compensation.
The prolonged delays in resolving these cases have fuelled public frustration, with many questioning the effectiveness of the district’s law enforcement and judicial processes. As investigations stall, victims and their families continue to await justice and closure.
PNN
