Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of the BJP on Monday filed police complaints against IPS officer Satish Gajbhiye in 503 police stations, while lawyers boycotted courts against the officer’s alleged high-handedness against people demanding action against self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba.
“We have registered FIRs at 503 police stations across the state against the police officer for unleashing a reign of terror in Kendrapada district. The government should suspend and arrest him,” said Odisha BJP in-charge Arun Singh.
The Congress party, meanwhile, laid siege to the Kendrapada collector’s office demanding Gajbhiye’s arrest.
Gajbhiye, transferred as the police superintendent of Kendrapada, is in the line of fire for alleged high-handedness against members of the public, who were demanding action against the godman on August 6-7.
State BJP president K.V. Singhdeo said the police official has put the Taliban behind, following his atrocities against common people.
Head of the Congress legal cell Dharanidhar Nayak said the party has submitted a memorandum to the government seeking Gajbhiye’s arrest.
Godman Sarathi Baba is currently in judicial custody over alleged financial irregularities and sexual escapades.
Meanwhile, the All Odisha Lawyers Association boycotted courts across the state demanding the arrest and suspension of Gajbhiye over his alleged attack on lawyer Duryodhan Sahu.
The lawyers said they will continue their agitation till August 14 if the government did not act against the officer.
“He (Gajbhiye) has no right to stay in a civilised society and should be dispatched to Taliban territory in Afghanistan. The government should arrest him,” said Ashok Mohapatra, president of the High Court Bar Association.
Samir Das, spokesperson for the ruling Biju Janata Dal, said the government has already initiated action against the police official as he has been shifted to the police headquarters as officer without duty.
“Further action will be taken against him at the right time,” he said.