A viral video showing a mother and son being mercilessly beaten inside a police station has prompted immediate intervention from the Odisha Director General of Police (DGP).
The DGP has ordered strict departmental and disciplinary action against Sandhyarani Jena, the then Inspector-in-Charge of the Talachua Marine Police Station in Rajnagar block.
The incident reportedly took place in May when the mother and her son were summoned to the Talachua Police Station for questioning regarding a local land or family dispute. According to protocol, citizens visiting a police station are to be treated with basic dignity during an investigation. Instead, throwing all legal and humanitarian norms to the wind, Inspector Jena allegedly subjected the duo to extreme physical torture behind closed doors.
In the heart-wrenching footage that recently surfaced and spread like wildfire across social media, the female officer is seen brutally thrashing the helpless mother and son with a thick wooden stick. Despite the victims crying, folding their hands, and pleading for mercy, the inspector showed no signs of stopping.
The delayed emergence of the video has left the residents of Kendrapada and the entire state in shock. The appalling abuse of power inside a facility meant to protect citizens has drawn fierce backlash from human rights activists, lawyers, intellectuals, and various social organisations. Activists condemned the custodial violence as a severe violation of human rights and threatened mass protests in the region if exemplary punishment was not handed down to the erring officer.
Sensing the gravity of the situation and the mounting public anger, the Odisha DGP took direct cognisance of the matter. Issuing a stern warning, the State Police Headquarters made it explicitly clear that such barbaric behaviour and high-handedness by law enforcement officials will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The DGP’s swift directive for an immediate departmental probe and stringent disciplinary measures has sent a strong message across the district police ranks. Meanwhile, the local community and the victims’ family are expressing hope that this high-level intervention will ensure rapid justice and hold the guilty accountable.
