SERVICRIPADA: The district police fail to provide better security arrangement during car festival. The lack of security arrangement was giving an advantage to youths at the grand road to molest women devotee.
A video that showing youths molesting girls during pulling the chariot of Devi Subhadra went viral on social media a day after the incident. The incident took place on a day after Phandi when the women devotees were pulling Devi Subhadra's chariot at Grand road at Baripada.
The district police claim about good security arrangement for car festival at Baripada as second Srikheta such incident is reluctant to the police department by the public.
The day after Pahandi, the women devotees had traditionally pulled the chariot of Devi Subhadra on Sunday after the chariot of Lord Balabhadra reached to Srigundicha temple. It was alleged that due to lack of proper security, women fall victim to misbehaviour and molestation by anti-social rudiments. Then it brought attention to the district police.
After the incident took place, Mayurbhanj SP Awinash Kumar had sentient of the incident. It is learnt that police who were deployed in and outside the cordons with video cameras to shoot several activities on Grand Road during pulling of chariots had first recorded in the camera had failed to provide the security help to the girls.
It came to the police department after it went viral in social media after some youths recorded the incident there. At least three snaps were moving in mobile phones beside social media.
Police wanted to hide the matter as it is one of the big issues that took place in a holy spot. After viral of the video, police identified a youth and detained him for two days, later police set the youth free as the girls refused to lodge any complaint against the anti-social element.
District Bar Association's President Prabir Kumar Basa said that despite non-cooperation of the victim, police has the power to arrest the youth who involved in the case from their side.
One of the accused will be freed from police custody, not only him but others will be taking such advantage. Police should first inquire into the matter and take legal action, he said adding, the victim should cooperate with the police for an easy inquest.
Awinash Kumar the SP admitted that he had knowledge about the issue. He told The New Indian Express that the detained youth has been set free, but was asked to come to Baripada town police station every day.
The SP said he is looking into the matter. He added that on prior to Bahuda Yatra of trinity security will step up Pahandi, and two days pulling of chariots.
A good number of police in plain clothes will be deployed at sensitive points to keep a check on such elements, said the SP. Baripada car festival is famous in the world where only the women devotees will exclusively pull the chariot of Devi Subhadra. It is unique that at least thirteen days has traditionally observed for car festival.