Dhenkanal: Amid high drama, a former constable of Odisha Special Armed Police (OSAP) on Saturday climbed atop a mobile tower in front of Town Police Station in Dhenkanal demanding reinstatement in service and financial assistance for mother’s treatment.
The man has been identified as Rudra Narayan Das of Sogar village under the jurisdiction of Kamakhyanagar police station in the district. He was earlier dismissed from service.
On being informed about the incident, fire services personnel rushed to the spot and launched an operation to bring him down safely.
Sources said Rudra was appointed as a constable in OSAP in 2018. While underg
oing training, he fell ill and was reportedly sent on medical rest by doctors. After he reported back following recovery, he was dismissed from service. Following dismissal, he repeatedly approached the district administration, departmental officials, and also the Chief Minister’s office seeking reinstatement, but his efforts failed to yield positive result.
Rudra even walked from Dhenkanal to Bhubaneswar to meet the Chief Minister and also met senior officers of OSAP in Dhenkanal but claimed that no one listened to his grievances.
Claiming that his mother is suffering from cancer, Rudra also demanded financial assistance from the government to meet the expenses for her treatment.
Locals said Rudra climbed the mobile tower carrying a jerrycan containing a flammable substance and allegedly threatened to set himself on fire if his demands were not fulfilled.
Besides making counselling efforts, fire service personnel were laying safety nets around the area as Rudra allegedly threatened to jump from the tower during the rescue operation.