On Saturday around 8 pm, Amit Sahu, who works in a shop near the police station, was talking to someone on his mobile phone while sitting on a Scooty kept just outside the parking mark. A polic control room (PCR) van with some policemen led by an Assistant Sub Inspector arrived at the place and asked him to pay the penalty for parking the Scooty outside the parking mark. When the youth refused to pay the penalty, the ASI and the policemen severely thrashed him in full public view. Later, he was taken inside the police station and allegedly beaten up by more than 20 policemen, sources said.
Following the incident, tension ran high in the area and members of the trading establishments downed their shutters from the bus stand area up to Lengu Mishra Chhak. They also staged a demonstration in front of the police station.
Sensing trouble, additional police force was deployed in and around the police station.
Demanding action against the policemen who had thrashed the youth, the locals staged a road blockade in the town on Sunday morning. However, they withdrew the blockade after the Bargarh SP assured them of proper investigation and action against the erring policemen.
“The youth has been severely thrashed by the police. The police are not empowered to beat anybody. The people of Bargarh town are fed up with the rowdy behaviour of the Town Police which recently launched a drive to improve traffic situation in the town. Instead of involving people in the drive and seeking their cooperation to make the mission successful, police are rudely behaving with them,” Lipsit Mishra, secretary of Balangir Lawyers Association, told mediapersons here on Sunday.
Asked whether the incident would be brought to the notice of the chief minister, Bargarh MLA Debesh Acharya said he would earnestly request the people of Bargarh town to restore normalcy. He also assured that stern action would be taken against the policemen if found guilty.
On the contrary, Additional SP, Bargarh, Jasobant Senapati said the allegation of the victim had no veracity. ‘If police have done anything, it would be known after the investigation which is underway,” he added.
Stating that there was an argument between the police and the youth over the parking of the vehicle, he said an FIR have been lodged by both the parties at the police station.
Senapati further said the police have conducted the medical examination of the youth whose condition is stable now.