Wife of ‘kidnapped’ Patnagarh PWD JE alleges police inaction

Bolangir: A day after police rescued the Junior Engineer (JE) of Public Works Department in Patnagarh, who was allegedly kidnapped on Thursday hours after a video showing local BJD MLA Saroj Meher forcing him to do sit-ups in public went viral; his wife has accused the police of taking no action.

Raising questions over the role of police in the incident, wife of JE Jaykant Sabar also claimed that there is a threat to her family members.

“I had lodged a complaint on June 6, but nothing has been done yet. I am very sad over police inaction and there is threat to my family members as well,” Sabar’s wife said.

Patnagarh DSP Suresh Nayak had informed yesterday that Sabar was rescued from Khariar area of Nuapada district.

Sabar’s wife had lodged the complaint at Patnagarh PS alleging that her husband was kidnapped and the local MLA was behind his abduction. She had demanded the arrest of the legislator.

Hours before the incident, a video showing the legislator asking the JE to do sit-ups in public following allegations of poor road work near Belpada in Bolangir district, went viral on social media sparking sharp reactions from various quarters.

Terming the incident unacceptable, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said that elected representatives should be simple, humble and refrain themselves from hooliganism.

Similarly, Bolangir MP Sangeeta Singh Deo too condemned the incident and said, “The incident is unfortunate and it is not at all appropriate.”