Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 8: In a major embarrassment for the city police, a police team of Laxmisagar police station was outnumbered and attacked by slum dwellers of Haldipadia, where the police team had gone to rescue a man tied by residents to a garbage bin Monday.
Sub-inspector Ashok Kumar Hansda and his four subordinates were assaulted with sticks by residents when they reached to rescue the man in the evening.
Some residents had earlier lodged a complaint with Laxmisagar police against one Santosh Jena alleging he had kidnapped a local girl. The police allegedly failed to act on the complaint.
The alleged police inaction prompted the residents to tie Jena to a garbage bin for several hours.
When the policemen, led by Hansda, attempted to free the man, the residents began attacking them. Some of the policemen’s clothes were reportedly torn in the incident.
DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said a case against 25 people has been registered and the attacker will be brought to justice. When asked if police would do an overnight crackdown and arrest slum dwellers, the DCP said the matter will be investigated and action will be taken accordingly.
Incidentally, Commissionerate Police organised several police-public meets in the recent past to gain the confidence of residents. However, such meets are often organised in posh areas of the city wherein only residents of gated communities participate.
