2 Cops, 3 Home Guards Axed For Mysterious Death Of ‘Ganja Smuggler’ In Odisha

Phulbani: In the case of a mysterious death, involving a ganja smuggler, Kandhamal SP Suvendu Kumar Patra on Wednesday suspended two police officers and terminated services of three home guards.

The axe has fallen ion sub-Inspector (SI) Ajit Kumar Behera and constable Ramchandra Nayak and three home guards—Abhiram Mahanand, Jagabandhu Kanhar, and Ratnakar Nayak.

According to sources, Jyestha Bandaki, an alleged ganja smuggler, was mowed down by a police vehicle during a chase on September 26 on suspicion of smuggling cannabis and illicit liquor on a motorcycle. His family alleged that the police patrol team crashed into the motorcycle and beat him up instead of taking him to hospital, leading to his death. They then dumped his body in the forest and fled after taking away all the money, contraband, and liquor.

On September 27, some villagers spotted Jyestha’s body at the bottom of a gorge under Gochapada police limits and informed his family members, who live in Beherapada village in the neighbouring Boudh district.

Following the allegation, Phulbani sub-divisional police officer Suprasanna Mallick had then said that a deputy superintendent of police-level (DSP) officer has been asked to probe the incident.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear,  the incident has raised significant concerns, police sources said.