Odia IAS Officer Alleges Harassment In West Bengal

Bhubaneswar: An Odia IAS Officer, Smrutiranjan Mohanty, was allegedly harassed by some police personnel during inspection at Rampurhat police station in Birbhum district of West Bengal.

The IAS officer has written to West Bengal Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, urging them to take action against the erring cops.

“It is with regret that I narrate this incidence that transpired at P.S Rampurhat at around 4:30 pm with me and Shri R.K. Halder Deputy Collector & Deputy Magistrate, Rampurhat (DMDC) in the presence of Shri Abhishek Roy, SDPO, Rampurhat,” he wrote in the letter.

Mohanty said that he had received several complaints regarding extortion and corruption at several business activities in the sub division and tried to contact the Inspector-in-Charge of Rampurhat police station several times over phone to pass on the instructions, but got no reply. “Having failed to contact him lastly, I took my DMDC Shri R.K. Halder and visited the Thana for an urgent discussion with the IC but was met with hostile behavior which seemed to be premeditated,” he said.

The IAS officer further alleged that SDPO, Rampurhat, questioned his authority to be present at the police station and for making such enquiries and inspections. “It may be asserted here that as per section 22(a) of Police regulation 1943 Bengal, I was well within my right to make a thana inspection annually and report the findings to the District Magistrate,” he said.

The SDPO and local police later detained him at the police station, the IAS officer said in the letter.

“It was after repeated unlawful questioning (regarding my power to inspect a thana) in a manner & conduct which was unbecoming of a responsible police officer by the SDPO and other junior police officers and after intervention by the District Magistrate, Birbhum, that I was allowed to leave the police station,” he added.