The Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Dabugaon police station in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district was suspended on Saturday following allegations of dereliction of duty. The disciplinary action stems from the recent death of a 23-year-old man while in police custody, an officer said.
The move follows the prior suspension of three other police personnel of Dabugaon police station after the custodial death of the accused.
According to an official order signed by DGP Y B Khurania on Friday, Dabugaon police station IIC Raghunath Majhi faces disciplinary proceedings for “gross misconduct and dereliction of duty.”
He has been placed under suspension with immediate effect pending a full inquiry into the incident, it said.
Earlier on April 29, sub-inspector Bikram Sahu and OAPF personnel Karn Pujari and Budhiram Majhi were also suspended. Preliminary investigations suggested negligence regarding the custodial suicide of Purna Kalar (23), a resident of Anchala village who was being held by Dabugaon police.
Police sources said that Kalar was arrested on April 28 in connection with a minor girl’s abduction and placed in the lock-up. The following day, he was found hanging inside the police station toilet, an event that triggered significant local tension.
Nabarangpur SP Sandeep Sampad Madkar had earlier said that initial evidence pointed to a clear failure in duty by the suspended officials, leading to the incident.
While under suspension, Raghunath Majhi will be under the disciplinary control of the DIG of Police, South Western Range (SWR), Koraput. As per the Odisha Service Code, he will continue to receive a subsistence allowance throughout the investigation period.
