Bhubaneswar: A police officer in Odisha has been suspended following allegations of assault and misconduct involving a married woman at a police station in Kendrapara district.
Sandhyarani Jena, inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Talchua Marine Police Station, was suspended after a complaint accused her of behaving in an inhumane manner with a woman who had approached the station over a family dispute.
According to the complaint, Annapurna Mandal from Giriyapahi village alleged that the officer abused her, pulled her hair and forcibly smeared sindoor on her forehead inside the police station. Her son was also allegedly assaulted and threatened during the incident.
Following the alleged assault, the woman reportedly sought medical treatment and later lodged a complaint with SDPO Sukanta Patra.
Police sources said the incident was reviewed using CCTV footage from the police station as part of the preliminary inquiry ordered by Kendrapara district police authorities.
Based on the initial findings, Odisha Director General of Police Y. B. Khurania ordered the immediate suspension of Sandhyarani Jena on charges of serious misconduct and dereliction of duty.
However, Jena has denied the allegations, claiming that the accusations made against her are false.
