Bhubaneswar:: The Forest, Environment and Climate Change department has initiated disciplinary proceedings against assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Puri, Ashok Behera, for alleged negligence while on duty in the district control room during Rath Yatra.
Behera was accused of misconduct following an administrative inquiry conducted by Development Commissioner Anu Garg into the stampede near Shree Gundicha temple on June 29 when three persons, including two women, were killed and 12 others were injured.
In a memorandum issued on Tuesday, additional chief secretary of Forest, Environment and Climate Change department said it has been proposed to initiate departmental proceedings for misconduct against Ashok Behera posted as ACF in Puri.
Behera has been asked to submit his representation within 30 days. “If he fails to submit his representation within the period specified, it will be presumed that he has no representation to make and orders will be liable to be passed against him ex parte,” it added.
The ACF and other officials from the police department were assigned duties in the district control room functioning near Gundicha Temple from June 27 to July 5. Their duties included coordination with police and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) officials, supervising crowd management to ensure hassle-free darshan of devotees and maintaining law and order during the festival.
“The ACF along with other senior officials deployed in the control room was expected to be vigilant about the evolving situation and escalate the issues to seniors as needed. Failure to do so, particularly in discussing the matter with Sevayats on the chariots, contributed to the lapses,” the Home Department noted.
The department has so far recommended disciplinary proceedings against five officials, including three executive magistrates, ACF Behera, and Puri district social security officer.
Earlier this month, the state government had ordered disciplinary action against seven senior police officers after a detailed inquiry confirmed major failures in policing and in the AI-based surveillance system meant to monitor the massive crowd.
The incident took place early morning at around 4 am, when several devotees had gathered near the Gundicha temple, for a glimpse of the deities atop the chariots and two trucks loaded with Charamala wood entered the Saradhabali area, leading to chaos and death of three persons due to suffocation.
