Pregnant woman thrashed, forced to do sit-ups on wood theft charge

BALASORE: A 19-year-old woman, who is three-months pregnant, was allegedly thrashed and forced to do sit-ups 20 times by a forest guard on suspicion of stealing wood from the forest.
The incident was reported from Barhapanapashi village under Karanjia forest division of Mayurbhanj district. As news of her harassment spread, Barhapanapashi villagers staged protest and blocked the Karanjia-Baripada road and demanded the arrest of the accused.They also locked the Dudhiani Forest Range office demanding compensation for the victim.
Sarojini Singh, inspector in-charge of Karanjia police station, said a case has been registered on the basis of the complaint filed by the victim. “The forest guard has been detained for questioning and investigation is underway,” she added.
According to the complaint lodged by Sukumati Guria, a team of forest officials led by Kabita Behera, a woman forest guard of Dudhiani Forest Range, raided her house at Barhapanapashi village on Thursday evening, loking for stolen timber.
The woman said the team couldn’t find any stolen item at the house. “Following this, Kabita assaulted me and my 65-year-old mother. Later, she brought me and my brother to the forest range office, where she thrashed both of us and forced me to do 20 sit-ups,” Sukumati said.
She reportedly sustained fracture on her right hand and complained of stomach pain following the assault. She and her mother were first admitted to a local hospital and then shifted to the Karanjia sub-divisional hospital for treatment. Dr Akshay Rath, sub-divisional medical officer of Karanjia hospital, said, “Three months is a critical period of pregnancy. But the woman is doing fine. We have provided her with required treatment and she has been sent back home.”
The incident led her family members to lodge a complaint with Karanjia police. Dudhiani ranger Saroj Kumar Panda said the forest guard has been placed under suspension. “The forest department has also provided an assistance of Rs 10,000 to the victim,” the ranger said.