Puri: A girl today took to social media and alleged molestation of women by a policeman during ‘darshan’ at Gundicha Temple on Navami. On her Facebook post, she narrated her ordeal and tagged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As per the post, the girl went to the Gundicha Temple at around 6:45 pm with her father for the evening darshan of the Trinity at Adapa Mandap. While in queue, she found a policeman inappropriately touching women taking advantage of the crowd. Seeing this, she mustered courage and slapped him thrice.
The girl also alleged that even though policewomen in charge of managing the rush were seeing the policeman improperly touching the women devotees, they didn't take any action.
“I saw policemen and even policewomen standing nearby. I don’t know whether they saw it or not, but I couldn’t bear their silence. I don’t know I did the right thing or not but I grabbed the policeman by his collar and slapped,” said the girl.
Expressing resentment against the police department, the mother of the girl said police should not protect the accused to save the image of their department.
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“We have not got any written complaint related to molestation during our crowd clearance. However, basing upon the social media post, a detail investigation into the matter would be carried on after the Niladri Bije rituals of the Trinity get over,” said Puri superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi.
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Condemning the alleged molestation in Gundicha Temple, Chief of Puri Temple's Sanskar Commission Justice Bimal Prasad Das said rigorous punishment must be given if any policeman is found guilty.
Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha has today demanded arrest of the molester by Tuesday morning.
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“Involvement of a policeman in outraging the modesty of a woman is unbelievable and unacceptable. The police must arrest the culprit by tomorrow morning,” said president of the Mahila Morcha Prabhati Parida.
Later in the day, based on the social media post and media reports, Director general of Police (DGP) KB Singh directed the Puri SP to register a case in this connection at Kumbharpara police station. According to sources, DGP also directed the SP to supervise the probe into the matter.