The Odisha government today transferred the Kendrapara SP Satish Gajbhiye with immediate effect following the police brutality on the people yesterday and today. Gajbhiye, who has been transferred to the state police headquarters, has been replaced by senior IPS officer Nitinjit Singh, sources in the chief minister’s office said.
Not only did Gajbhiye fail to rein in his men who went berserk attacking all and sundry – not sparing even those who had nothing to do with the protests – he actually defended the action by the cops. He helped the situation from worsening with his ill-advised and insensitive comment that the protestors had been instigated by someone. Earlier int he day, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra had demanded his immediate suspension and removal from Kendrapara. With the situation in Kendrapara threatening to go out of hand, the state government has also sent Central range IG RP Koche to Kendrapara in a desperate effort to restore normalcy in the town.
