Centre seeks report from Odisha government after woman's complaint

Centre has sought a report from Odisha government on the allegation made by a woman that she delivered a stillborn baby after being kicked by a police officer at a village in Ganjam district.

Berhampur: Centre has sought a report from Odisha government on the allegation made by a woman that she delivered a stillborn baby after being kicked by a police officer at a village in Ganjam district.

Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the home secretary, Odisha to intimate the facts about the incident and the action taken against police officer concerned, said senior BJP leader Ram Chandra Panda, who had written to the Centre about the reported incident.

Panda released a copy of the Centre's letter to the media here yesterday.

A former deputy speaker of Odisha assembly, Panda had written letters to the Centre and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about the incident which purportedly took place at Patrapur under Jarada police station limits in Ganjam district over two months ago.

Panda claimed that Mami Adhikari (26) had delivered a stillborn baby at MKCG Medical College Hospital here on November 17, 2014 as she fell down after being allegedly kicked by the inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Jarada police station.

The IIC had gone to her house on October 25, 2014 in search of her husband Kunja Adhikari in connection with an old case. He was arrested from the house and released on bail on November 15.

DIG (Southern Range) Amitabh Thakur had directed the deputy superintendent of police, Human Rights, Berhampur to inquire into matter after the woman staged a dharna in front of his office seeking action against the IIC.

"We have sent the inquiry report to the state government and NHRC after they sought it. But, I am not aware of the letter sent by the Centre," a senior police officer said.

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