Angul: Odia film and opera actor Usasi Misra was allegedly molested and manhandled by three persons at Derang village in Kaniha of Odisha’s Angul district at around 3 am on Sunday night.
In a social media post, Usasi has alleged had she was beaten up and molested at Derang while she had gone there to perform in an opera, owned by Eastern Blue. She alleged that her car was also damaged. “We talk of general women being safe….where a media figure like me is not safe..this man manhandled, badmouthed me n tried to rip my clothes,” she said, adding, “I gave a good fight and saved myself.”
Usasi filed a complaint at the Kaniha police station, alleging that while she and her managers were trying to reach the venue on her car to perform at the opera, a person used slangs and acted in an indecent manner. She said she initially tried to ward him off but subsequently got down from the vehicle. “I hit him and he also beat me up,” she said. “I thought the matter would end there. But later while I was on stage the man returned with his relatives and stopped the performance and manhandled me. They even threatened to make me nude,” she added.
Kaniha police rushed to the spot and pacified the villagers. The opera show began after an hour.
Police sources said one Indramani Swain and his two sons allegedly manhandled the actress and even rebuked her with obscene language. They also damaged her car.
Inspector-in-charge of Kaniha police station Sukanti Kerketa confirmed the incident. Pallahada sub-divisional police officer Jasobant Samal said the villagers after coming to know that Usasi had arrived to perform rushed to the opera. During the rush, some people collided with her. At this, the actress got enraged and slapped Indramani.
DIG (northern range) Narasingha Bhol said investigation had begun and stern action would be taken against the guilty.
There has been no comment from the opera party manager about the incident so far.
