Bhubaneswar: In a swift disciplinary action, DGP YB Khurania has placed Inspector Sandhyarani Jena, inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Talchua Marine Police Station in Kendrapada district, under immediate suspension.
The suspension order, issued by the Police Headquarters, cites gross misconduct and dereliction of duty. A formal disciplinary proceeding is now contemplated against her. During the suspension period, Jena will remain under the disciplinary control of the Inspector General of Police, Central Range, Cuttack. Kendrapada SP has been directed to serve the order and submit draft charges along with supporting evidence for disciplinary proceedings
The action comes just hours after serious allegations of custodial torture and police excess surfaced against personnel at Talchua Marine Police Station. A mother-son duo
from Giriapahi village— Annapurna Mandal (55) and her son Ananta Kumar Mandal (31) – alleged that they were summoned to the station on May 25 in connection with a family dispute.
This followed a complaint lodged by Annapurna’s husband Manoranjan Mandal at the police station on Sunday over a family dispute involving his wife and son.
According to their complaint filed with the Pattamundai SDPO, Annapurna claimed that IIC Jena abused her, dragged her by the hair, slapped her, and wiped off her sindoor. She further alleged that her son was taken inside a toilet, brutally beaten by the IIC and a constable, and nearly strangled. The duo claimed they were detained from around 6 pm to 11:40 pm, forced to sign blank papers, and threatened not to disclose the incident. Their mobile phone was also allegedly seized.
The mother-son duo reportedly sustained multiple injuries and was later admitted to Rajnagar community health centre. Medical examination reportedly revealed injury marks on Annapurna’s hands and Ananta’s neck, hands, legs and back.
Police have initiated an inquiry into the allegations of third-degree torture and assault.
This is not the first time Jena has faced suspension for alleged misconduct. In previous incidents, including cases from Keonjhar and Jharsuguda districts, she was suspended for issues such as using third-degree methods on a youth and shifting bodies of accident victims to another police station’s jurisdiction.