During the lockdown an Odisha police officer recently traveled from Barchana to Puri in a stolen SUV with his family and threatened a constable for barging before entering into the Jagannath temple — which is closed for devotees — .
Deepak Kumar Jena, the inspector-in-charge of Barchana police station district Jajpur, was not on leave and didn’t inform the district SP about his trip to Puri, said DIG (Central Range) Ashish Singh.
What’s worse, Jena installed a red beacon on the SUV he used: a stolen vehicle that had earlier been seized by the police.
When Jena reached the Jagannath temple, he was reportedly stopped by a constable, whom he threatened before entering the premises through the South Gate.
He was detained with his family after the constable filed a complaint at the Singha Dwar police station. He’s now been suspended.When news of Deepak Kumar Jena’s trip to Puri reached the owner of the stolen SUV — Sushant Dalei — the latter filed a complaint with the Jajpur SP and Collector.
According to reports, the vehicle was stolen on March 20 in Chandikhol district Jajpur.
The following day, Dalei filed a complaint with police in Barchana. Deepak Jena recovered the vehicle a few days later.
“The inspector promised to hand over the vehicle to me as soon as traced the thieves,” Dalei said”But I am yet waiting to get it back, even though a month has passed since the incident. Hence, I approached the Collector and SP to get it back.”
