Angul: A woman havildar of the Odisha Police launched a sit-in dharna and fast unto death protest outside the SP office in Angul on Wednesday, alleging inaction on her complaint of continuous harassment by two senior officers.
Her protest came amid reports that Reserve Inspector Gobinda Mahari, one of the seniors whom she had named as an accused in her complaint, was transferred to Kalahandi on the recommendation of Angul SP Rahul Jain.
Speaking to the media, the woman officer claimed she was forced to resort to the extreme step after waiting for over a month without any concrete action despite being assured of prompt investigation. “I have lost faith in my department. I was subjected to mental harassment, for which I complained. They did not accept my resignation and assured me of action. I have cooperated with the probe but no action has been taken since a month,” she told reporters.
She further alleged that attempts were being made to shield the accused and trivialise her grievances.
According to sources, senior police officials, including Additional SP and IG of North Central Range, reached the SP office this morning and are holding discussions with the protesting havildar to resolve the matter.
On April 1, Angul SP had informed the media that deputy superintendent of police Jogeswari Behera has been directed to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of continuous harassment and mental stress levelled by her. A department’s internal complaints committee will simultaneously examine the matter and action will be taken against those found guilty after the inquiry reports are submitted, he added.
This followed a meeting with the SP on March 30 during which she requested him to accept her resignation and take appropriate action against the accused officers.
Later on April 4, Odisha Police Havildar-Constable Association filed a complaint with the SP alleging several Havildars and constables too had been harassed by RI Govinda Mahari and Havildar Subhakant Sahu.
