Odisha lady jailer seeks journo's 'head' in viral audio, police complaint lodged

A viral audio clip has become the talk of the town here in Kantabanji of Bolangir district. In the purported viral audio, a woman jailer of Kantabanji jail was allegedly heard telling someone that she wants a head, dead or alive. 

At present, Bikaslata Baru is the jailor of the Kantabanji jail. 

While the audio is fast travelling from mobile to mobile in the locality, questions like why she needs someone’s scalp and does she want to take a revenge on anyone are coming to the minds of the people. 

A local journalist identified as Nimain Charan Mahat has alleged that the jailor is looking for his head. Apprehending a threat to his life, he has lodged a complaint at the Kantabanji police station. 

When contacted, Mahat said, “The daily newspaper I am working with published a news item written by me on the Kantibanji jail on July 30. I had highlighted how the lives of the jail inmates are in danger. Following this, a social activist had lodged a complaint at the Public Grievance Redressal Portal.”

“On the basis of it, the concerned authorities asked the jailer to do a probe into the allegations. Upon this, jailer Bikaslata Baru had asked Pramod Behera, a local journalist of a web portal to bring me. She had even told him that she wanted my head, dead or alive,” Mahat added.   

“I am in fear. So I have lodged a complaint against journalist Pramod Behera and jailer Bikaslata with the Kantabanji police station and I seek police protection,” he further added.

Meanwhile, jailer Baru claimed that she said that in a joke. 

"The complainant had demanded Rs 2 lakh which I didn't pay. I am a tribal woman and live alone. I too need protection," she said.

Later on the day, DIG Prisons, Kulamani Behera visited the Kantabanji jail and recorded the accused Jailer's statement. "I have recorded statements of three persons including the Jailer and has sent it to the DG. Whatever the Jailer has said in the phone conversation is serious. But the context is still unclear," said Behera.