The Commissionerate Police have suspended a sepoy for allowing a youth, Sushant Nayak, who threatened a woman staff with a knife in the State Secretariat on Saturday, without an entry pass.
The sepoy, Bijay Kumar Behera (Badge no 690), was on duty at Gate No-2 of the Secretariat on Saturday.
Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharmasaid the sepoy was suspended on the basis of an enquiry report submitted by ACP in charge of Secretariat security Yakub Khan.
“It was a gross mistake by the sepoy to allow a visitor without an entry pass,” said Dr Sharma, adding, “We have verified CCTV cameras and interrogated other police personnel on duty on Friday before holding Behera guilty.”
He said security inside the Secretariat would be beefed up after this incident. Five platoons of police forces supervised by an ACP-rank officer have been deployed in the Secretariat to oversee law and order situation. “We have reviewed the security system. Metal detectors, which are in defunct state now, will be repaired soon,” he added.
Dr Sharma had earlier suggested the Home Department in a proposal for installation of double gate with the holding area to regulate entry gates, installation of a baggage scanner, allowing visitors in the selected two gates of the Secretariat and physical checking with metal detectors by the checking staff on the visitors.