A home guard at Kotagad police station, Kabichandra Nayak has brought serious allegations of harassment on the Inspector in-Charge (IIC) of the same police station, Dheeraj Lenka.
Nayak has furnished a written complaint with the Phulbani SP alleging Lenka has been harassing him because of his physical disability. Moreover, the IIC has allegedly asked him to guard his pet dogs at home.
Speaking to reporters, Nayak said, “Lenka was drunk on the evening of September 8 when he insulted me in front of my colleagues over my physical disability. When I confronted him, he threatened to bury me alive at the police station.”
“Lenka had asked me to guard his pet dogs at home. I denied politely, so he kept grudge on me and insulted, threatened me in front of all,” Nayak alleged.
However, the IIC refuted all the allegations. Asked about the complaint, Lenka said, “I was not drunk. I was solving a family dispute at the police station. When I threw a light hearted joke at Nayak asking him if he is actually physically disabled, he charged at me and insulted me in front of my colleagues.”
“Offended by the insult I reprimanded him telling him that his job is in my hands,” he added.
The allegation of harassment by a senior police officer is not new for Kandhamal district. It is pertinent to mention here that the body of a woman sub-inspector, Swagatika Behera was recovered from her official quarters at G.Udaygiri in Kandhamal district on August 27.
On the next day, Swagatika’s family members staged a sit-in outside G. Udayagiri police station demanding justice for their daughter and immediate arrest of IIC Rebati Sabar who they accused of mentally harassing and torturing their daughter.