By IANS
Balasore (Orissa) : An Orissa police official has been suspended for dereliction of duty as she had arrested an innocent woman in a case of mistaken identity and put her behind bars, police said Monday.
“Balasore District Superintendent of Police P.S. Ranpise has placed Sarojini Singh, the erring sub-inspector posted at the Jaleswar police station, under suspension after an inquiry made by himself,” a police officer told IANS.
On March 8, she had allegedly arrested Binapani Mukhi, a 38-year-old resident of Panchughanta village, in place of her relative Minati Mukhi, the real accused in an excise case.
Binapani was sentenced two years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs.2,000 by a Jaleswar court.
She has already served six months of her sentence in the Balasore district jail and will be released only after the police enquiry is completed.
The mistake arose because the two women have the same nickname.
Sandip Mohanty, a social activist, brought the matter to the attention of the local administration. Police had earlier admitted the mistake and ordered a probe.
Binapani’s husband Gourishankar Mukhi has demanded compensation for his wife’s illegal detention.
“I have been running from pillar to post to get her freed. But nobody is paying heed to my grievances. She has lost her mental balance in the prison. Please help us,” Gourishankar, who works as a sweeper at the office of Jaleswar Notified Area Council, pleaded before the media.