A delegation of Congress leaders led by former PCC president Jayadev Jena on Thursday met DGP Sanjeev Marik here to register the party’s protest against police highhandedness on poor and innocent villagers of Belbahali in Keonjhar district.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the DGP, Jena alleged that after the July 7 police-people clash, normalcy has eluded the area as local cops are continuing their excesses against the villagers at the behest of ruling BJD leaders.
“Continuous massive police deployment in and around the village, threat of registration of false cases and arrests and vindictive attitude of the cops are vitiating the situation,” Jena alleged.
He said at least 116 persons, including 63 women, were arrested after the July 7 clash and police delayed in submission of CD reports impeding grant of bails. However, all the 63 women were granted bail earlier this week and 11 others were granted bail on the day, Jena informed.
Jena further informed that after his meeting with the DGP, the police deployment in the village is being relaxed. He categorically said the residents of the locality are not anti-police, but their concern over the proposed bridge over river Kusei should be sympathetically addressed by the State Government.