Surendra Prasad Mohapatra, a 1986-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of Odisha Cadre has reportedly been arrested for allegedly wrongfully confining a woman staffer at a hotel in the US where he was put up.
Mohapatra, Regional Chief Conservator of Forests at Sambalpur, is on a mid-career training in the US. He is part of a group of 30 IFS officers now on a training tour at Syracuse University in New York. A native of Athagarh in Cuttack district, Mohapatra was reportedly taken into police custody on Wednesday after a hotel staffer lodged a complaint.
The Indian Consulate in New York has rushed an official for legal assistance and to look for bail. Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan has sought a detailed report.
The Odisha Government, on its part said, it was waiting for detailed information from the Government of India. Describing the incident as unfortunate, Forest and Environment Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said there are reports about Mohapatra being taken into police custody. “We are in touch with the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Indian Embassy,” he said.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Priya Nath Padhi said official word on the incident is awaited. “We are not aware of the exact nature of the charges against Mohapatra. There was also no clear information on when he was taken into custody.
Padhi said, the Indian course coordinator for the US trip was contacted by the Government of India. According to him, Mohapatra had a problem with internet connection at his hotel room and sought the support of the help desk. A woman staff came to his room but was unable to fix it and so left. About two hours later, the police turned up and arrested Mohapatra reportedly on the complaint of the woman, Padhi added.
“We are unable to speak to Mohapatra directly given the restrictions of Pennsylvania Police,” he said. The State Government sought the help of the MoEF which in turn has got in touch with Ministry of External Affairs and a formal word is expected soon, the PCCF said.
Mohapatra, who has done MSc Tech in Applied Geology from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, in 1983 worked in ONGC as a geologist for three years before joining the IFS. He was among the two IFS officers from the State who were selected for the mid-career training arranged by the Government of India. The other officer Sisir Acharya is in Canada.