Bhadrak, June 28: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a Constable of Odisha Police were suspended for allegedly assaulting a Dalit woman, police said on Friday.

The accused cops have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Nepali Saha and Constable Rabindra Kumar Sethi from Chandbali police station in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.

Bhadrak SP Varun Guntupalli ordered their suspension on Thursday after a video of the incident was repeatedly aired by Argus News, a leading TV channel in the State.

Home guard Kishore Mohapatra has also been sent to the District Police Headquarters in this connection, a senior police officer said.

After Argus News aired the video, in which the three policemen were allegedly seen assaulting and dragging a woman out of Chandbali police station, Bhadrak SP placed the accused cops under suspension with immediate effect for negligence and dereliction of duty.

According to sources, a dalit woman, accompanied by her sister-in-law, from Barua village under Chandbali police station limits, had come to the police station to collect her monthly alimony from her divorced husband, who was also present there.

The incident reportedly occurred over the throwing of a shoe box inside the police station compound. According to the victim, her minor kid was playing with the shoe box and threw it inside the police station premises when Constable Sethi asked the woman to put it in a dustbin and slapped her.

As the woman protested, ASI Saha intervened and abused the woman and her sister-in-law. In their response, the accused cops assaulted the woman and dragged her out of Chandbali police station.

Later, the victim lodged an FIR against the accused cops. Further inquiry into the allegations was underway, Chandbali IIC Panchanan Mohanty said.

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