Odisha Crime Branch To Probe SDPO’s Assault On Tribal Women, Minister Tells House

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch will probe the alleged assault on tribal women by Chitrakonda SDPO Anshuman Dwivedi in Malkangiri district.

Informing this, Minister of State for Home Tusharkanti Behera told the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that the Crime Branch IG will head the probe.

The minister’s reply came after Opposition Congress and BJP members created ruckus in the Assembly over the incident.

Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati demanded a magistrate probe into the incident. He also demanded the immediate suspension of Dwivedi.

Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja demanded a CBI probe while veteran Congress leader Narasingha Mishra demanded a judicial probe.

BJP members too backed the Congress. “We demand a judiciary inquiry into the incident. We also demand a probe by a House Committee,” said Mohan Majhi.

Minister of State for Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Jagannath Saraka condemned the incident and promised strict action against the SDPO.

The SDPO allegedly assaulted four tribal women during a raid in connection with ganja seizure in Chitrakonda area on June 7 night.