A woman was left severely injured after being attacked by two irate constables in Gajapati district for drawing their ire over a petty issue.
The victim woman identified as Basant Patra, wife of Promod Kumar Patra of Bazar Sahi, Gurandi, was admitted at the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Brahmapur with severe head injuries.
According to sources, Basant Patra was managing the cash counter in the absence of her husband at Nandi Restaurant which they own. The restaurant is located between Adagam and Ghosani villages under Gurandi police limits.
Patra said on December 7 last at about 2:30 pm, constables B laxmi Narayana and B Tarakeswar Rao came to her restaurant and ordered for meals. However, at that time the meal was not ready and consequently, Patra requested the duo to wait for a few minutes. Now, the duo constables were impatient and had an altercation with Patra. Enraged, they scolded Patra with vulgar language and attacked her. B Tarakeswar Rao tightly caught hold of her neck, dragged her down and kicked her repeatedly. Simultaneously laxmi Narayana held her sarees and assaulted her by a helmet he was holding. As a result, Patra bled profusely and sustained blood clots in her head.
As if it was not enough, the duo constables went on a rampage and used abusive language against the restaurant staff. They threatened to kill Patra and her family and destroy her restaurant.
The Gurandi police registered a case. Though constable B laxmi Narayana surrendered before the police, he was granted bail soon after.
After recovery, Patra held a Press meet and alleged that the Gurandi police were deliberately slack in investigating the case since it involved the affairs of two constables. “I will continue to fight for justice. I will take the case to the Women Commission and sit on the Dharna,” warned Patra.