Basudevpur: Alleged police excesses have left a man and his son injured at Betada Bazaar under Basudevpur police limits in Bhadrak district late Tuesday night.
The incident triggered tension in the locality while people blocked the road and staged agitation at the police station Wednesday.
Ranjit Jena (55) and his son Sudhansu Jena (25) of Chirola village have sustained multiple injuries and were admitted to the local hospital.
According to locals, Sudhansu returned from Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh to Bhadrak Tuesday. Ranjit was at the railway station to receive his son. The duo then started off to Chirola in an auto-rickshaw. As the auto reached Betada Bazaar, policemen on night patrol asked the driver Prafulla Samal to produce the vehicle documents.
A few yards away a youth in civil dress introduced himself as a cop and demanded documents and money. The driver refused to pay money and left the place.
The same youth accompanied by another reached Betada cattle market on a bike and detained the auto-rickshaw. They then attacked Ranjit and his son for no reason.
Some policemen, who were then on patrolling duty, also attacked the father-son duo, locals alleged.
As the news spread, over 500 people accompanied by some BJP workers staged an agitation in front of the police station. A Congress leader intervened in the matter following which the agitators relented.
A delegation of locals held talks with sub-divisional police officer Jalandhar Jali, Basudevpur IIC Nabakrushna Nayak, Kasia marine police station IIC Sukanti Kerai, Nyakanidiha IIC Manas Deo.
The locals demanded immediate action to the accused youth and the police personnel.
The police assured the people of conducting an impartial probe and action against the errant policemen.
Based on a complaint lodged by Sudhansu, the police registered a case. PNN
