Another Odisha Official ‘Misbehaves’ With Women Returnees, Says He Has No Regrets

Angul: A day after Baliapal BDO drew public ire for her unsavoury behaviour towards some Surat-returnees in Balasore, a similar incident has come to the fore in Angul district on Thursday with an audio message going viral on social media.

According to sources, some women migrant labourers of Banarpal block in Angul district arrived in Bhubaneswar by train from Surat on Wednesday morning. They were taken to a government quarantine centre at Barapada Primary School in Chhendipada block of the district in the afternoon.

Since they belong to Banarpal, the women returnees requested Chhendipada BDO Sunil Kumar Kerketa over the phone to make arrangements for their stay at a quarantine centre in their own block.

Instead of listening to their request, the BDO gave them an ultimatum to either stay put there or leave for their village on foot.

Asked about the matter, the BDO told the media that they were not directed by the administration to send these women to their respective block. “They started arguing when I told them that they will have to stay at this centre. Following which I lost my temper and asked them to leave the place on foot. I may have used harsh words during the conversation, but I have no regrets,” the BDO said.

Talking to the media, the women returnees said that the BDO abused them when they requested him to send to a quarantine centre at Banarpal.

The returnees further alleged that they have not not provided food or water for the last 12 hours.

Also Read: Odisha BDO Pulls Rank Over Hungry Migrant Workers, Video Goes Viral

Also Read: Odisha Govt Has Ordered Probe Into BDO’s ‘Misbehaviour’, Says Minister