The irate villagers of Sananahunipala stormed Tihidi police station (PS) and staged a demonstration on Thursday protesting police atrocity on a Harijan youth.
The villagers alleged the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gaurahari Nayak and four other police personnel of Tihidi PS in Bhadrak district assaulted Sashikanta Das in the police station on Wednesday night. A seriously injured Das was first admitted to Tihidi Community Health Centre and later shifted to Bhadrak district hospital where his condition is stated to be critical.
According to Rangadhara Das, the victim’s uncle, the ASI and four other policemen brutally assaulted Sashikanta who had been to the police station on Wednesday night.
However, police claimed that Sashikanta had entered the PS with four other unidentified persons in an inebriated condition and started abusing police. When the ASI and other policemen present protested, they started assaulting the latter. During the quarrel, a youth was injured,” said Sriballava Sahoo, the IIC, Tihidi police station.
However, Chandabali DSP Bauribandhu Behera and Tihidi BDO Birakishore Panigrahi who rushed to police station assured the irate villagers of action against the culprit after investigation. The villagers called off the agitation.
Meanwhile, two cases have been registered. A Harijan atrocity case has been registered following an FIR lodged by Rangadhara. Police have also registered a criminal case against Sashikanta and four others.