Tribal woman in Orissa accuses MLA of assault and molestation

A case was registered against Independent MLA Jitu Patnaik representing Champua constituency at Bamebari police station on January 3, they said.However, refuting the allegation, Patnaik said the charges were baseless, concocted and politically motivated.

According to the complaint lodged by the woman -- Satyabhama Dehury of Balada village -- the alleged incident took place when the MLA and his supporters were organising a picnic near a temple on January 2.

When asked by the woman not to cook non-vegetarian food near the temple, the MLA and his supporters felt insulted and allegedly manhandled her and misbehaved with her, Inspector-in-Charge of Bamebari police station S Toppo said quoting the FIR.

Charges levelled against Patnaik under various sections of IPC and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act (STPA) included rioting, wrongful restraint, assault or using criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation and indulging in obscene acts and songs, he said.Toppo said inquiry into the incident was on and no arrest had been made in this connection.