BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has asked Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania to investigate the allegation against a traffic personnel of assaulting a native of Sikkim in Gopalpur.
In a notification on Wednesday, the Home department requested the DGP to take necessary action in connection with the incident and submit an action taken report within 15 days. Khurania was also asked to consider the matter as ‘extremely urgent’.
On November 3, Yogesh Sherpa (34), a differently-abled man from Sikkim, was allegedly assaulted by traffic personnel in Gopalpur. Taking cognisance of the matter, the chief minister’s office (CMO) of Sikkim requested Odisha government to direct its officials, who are investigating the incident, to forward a report of the action initiated by them.
The Sikkim government intervention came after Denzong Sherpa Association (DSA), a tribal organisation, wrote to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and drew his attention towards the alleged assault on Sherpa.
The DSA said Sherpa, who runs a momo stall in Balugaon, had visited Gopalpur with his friends for sightseeing when he was reportedly beaten up by the traffic personnel. He suffered serious injuries in the assault.
On November 4, Berhampur police had refuted the allegation and said Sherpa in an inebriated state was travelling with a man on a two-wheeler. They avoided a routine vehicle check conducted by local traffic personnel at Sunda Chowk.
After travelling some distance, Sherpa became unconscious due to excessive drinking and was admitted to MKCG medical college and hospital in Berhampur. He was later shifted to AIIMS in Bhubaneswar, said police.
Following the allegation of assault, an additional SP-ranked officer was directed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter.