Jagatsinghpur: A woman in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district has approached the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), accusing local police of assaulting and threatening her and her 14-year-old son during raids conducted in connection with a temple theft case involving her husband.
Aklima Bibi, a resident of the Hata Bazar in Khalupada area, filed the petition on Thursday, claiming that officers forcibly entered her home on December 11, demanding information about the whereabouts of her husband, Sk Nawab. She further alleged that police returned on December 18, summoned one of her minor sons – a Class VIII student – from school, and took him to the station, where he was reportedly beaten with belts and boots.
She further alleged that police even threatened her with multiple FIRs and warned them that their house would be demolished using a bulldozer.
The case pertains to loot of gold ornaments at Maa Charchika Temple last month when the idol of the deity was also allegedly damaged. Police suspected the involvement of Nawab in the theft as well as in illegal arms trading.
In her complaint, also sent to the Odisha Director General of Police, Bibi stated that her husband rarely visited home and that she had no knowledge of his whereabouts. She argued that any action should be directed solely at him if he is involved in criminal activities, and condemned the alleged targeting of her family.
Jagatsinghpur police have strongly denied the accusations, describing them as “baseless, false, and motivated.”
In an official statement, police said the actions followed legal procedures based on credible intelligence about a suspicious individual linked to a local temple theft. “The allegations made by Aklima Bibi are not supported by any material evidence. The police action was lawful, transparent, and conducted strictly in accordance with established legal procedures, with due sensitivity towards the minors and respect for the rights of all concerned.”
It further clarified that the minor boy was seen holding a gun, along with a magazine and live ammunition, inside the house in the presence of his parents in a video found in his mobile phone. Following which the child was called for counselling along with elder family members. “During counselling, the minor revealed that the arms and ammunition were procured by his father, Sk Nawab, and brought to Jagatsinghpur with the intention of selling them locally for monetary gain through illegal arms trade,” the police said.
Police said that the family members had been misleading the investigators to help him evade arrest. They further noted the complaint was intended to obstruct the ongoing investigation into the theft and potential arms trade, and to damage the force’s reputation. “Aklima Bibi filed a false and fabricated petition making allegations against the police, with the intent to malign the image of Jagatsinghpur Police and derail the lawful investigation against her husband,” the statement added.
