Bhubaneswar: Two police personnel attached to the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station were suspended on Tuesday after an accused allegedly assaulted a sentry and escaped from police custody.
The action was taken by Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena after a preliminary inquiry found negligence on the part of the Duty Charge Officer (DCO) and the sentry on duty.
The accused, Rudra Prasad Sutar, a resident of Erada village under Sabarang Police Station in Bhadrak district, had been arrested on July 30 in connection with a case involving the alleged betrayal of a young woman on the pretext of marriage.
He reportedly escaped on the morning of July 31 while being served breakfast inside the police station.
According to reports, the Duty Charge Officer had gone to the washroom when the sentry was serving breakfast to the accused. Seizing the opportunity, the accused allegedly pushed and slapped the sentry before fleeing the police station.
Soon after the incident, the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police lodged a complaint with the Capital Police Station, following which a case was registered. Police teams were deployed to trace and apprehend the absconding accused.
Taking serious note of the incident, DCP Jagmohan Meena issued show-cause notices to the two police personnel. Following a preliminary inquiry that pointed to dereliction of duty, both the Duty Charge Officer and the sentry were placed under suspension pending further departmental proceedings.
