Family Carries Woman’s Body On Bicycle To Protest Delay In Arrest Of Accused In Odisha
The incident was reported from Haripur village under Khaira police limits, where a violent clash had broken out on Sunday over a boundary dispute during the construction of a house: Reports
BHUBANESWAR: Family members of a woman who died in an alleged attack over a land dispute carried her body on a bicycle for nearly 15 kilometres to a police station in Odisha’s Balasore district on Tuesday, accusing police of delaying action against the accused.
The incident was reported from Haripur village under Khaira police limits, where a violent clash had broken out on Sunday over a boundary dispute during the construction of a house.
According to reports, Kamala Sethi (39) died after she was allegedly attacked with spades and shovels by her neighbours. Her sister-in-law, Shankuntala Sethi, sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Family members alleged that despite three days having passed since the incident, police had failed to take concrete action against all the accused persons. In protest, they carried Kamala’s body on a bicycle towards Khaira police station and planned to stage a demonstration demanding justice.
After being informed about the protest, Khaira police reportedly arranged an ambulance to transport the body. However, the family members refused to use the vehicle and continued their march. Later, they staged a protest near the police station by placing the body on the road.
The family questioned why all the accused had not yet been arrested.
Balasore Superintendent of Police (SP) Pratyush Diwaker said the prime accused had already been arrested and two others would be apprehended soon.
Referring to Tuesday’s protest, the SP said police had offered ambulance service to the family members, but they declined to accept it.
According to the complaint lodged with police, the violence erupted on Sunday morning while construction work was underway at the house of Surendra Sethi. Neighbour Bharat Jena and his family allegedly objected, accusing Surendra of encroaching on their land, following which an argument broke out and later turned violent.
Police said Bharat Jena, his wife Bharati, son Manas and another family member allegedly attacked Surendra, his wife Shankuntala, daughter Tulasi and sister Kamala with shovels and spades.
The injured persons were initially admitted to Khaira Hospital and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital after their condition deteriorated, police added.