Revenue Divisional Commissioner (central division) Arabinda Padhee has arrived in Odisha's Balasore district on a three-day visit to probe into the lathi charge incident at Chandaneswar Chadak Mela that had left over 40 devotees injured three months ago.
He visited the spot and interacted with the people, officials and cops on Wednesday. After offering prayers at Chandaneswar Shiva temple, he visited different places where the devotees were charged with batons by the violent police. He too interacted with the locals and took a stock of the situation.
Sources said police had resorted to lathi charge on devotees, who had gathered to participate in Chadak mela, a famous festival of the northern Balasore and neighbouring West Bengal, following a scuffle between them and the cops on April 12. People's representatives and scribes also were not spared.
The devotees also had retaliated hurting over a dozen cops including two DSPs. A police van was set ablaze. While the devotees claimed the police beat them mercilessly after the ceremonial mud (a mixture of mud and sandalwood paste) thrown at other devotees fell on them, the cops said the devotees first attacked when they were averting a molestation bid on a girl following a complaint by her parents.
Earlier, the district police in a face saving attempt had placed six cops under suspension holding them responsible for the incident. The locals also had observed 12-hour Bhogarai bandh demanding judicial inquiry into the incident.
The RDC said after field visits he interacted with the members of the temple managing committee, sevayats, members from the civil society groups, local MLA, Sarapanchs, PS members, Zilla Parisad member, local
magistrate, collector Akhila Bihari Ota and SP Rajesh Kumar to know the details about the incident. “The local residents handed over their written grievances and some
demands. We are examining whether they can be implemented,” Padhee said besides adding that the deposition of witnesses who have submitted their affidavits for the probe would be held on Thursday.
The probe report, which was to be submitted within 60 days of the incident, has been delayed over a month. While the residents here expect an impartial probe, the RDC said he would submit his report to the Government soon.
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