sambalpur police came under scan for deploying 55 years old cop

Narasingh Mahakud, the deceased police officer may get an unprecedented heroic farewell from his colleagues and senior officers for his bravery and sincerity but his death has exposed the sincerity of the department in tackling the Maoist infested area. The vital question that hunts the district police was that when there was no dearth of young and experience officers available in the district, under what circumstances, Mahakud, an officer of 55 years old, having severe waist-pain and was under one month leave for his ensuing daughter’s marriage was chosen to lead the striking force. Even deceased family members and some of his colleagues expressed displeasure on the district police for sending him to the forefront knowing well about his physical problems. “He was not pulling well because of his waist-pain but as usual he never refused when he was called for”, a family member told.

Sources said, police sub-inspector Narasingh Mahakud was killed on Monday during an encounter with the Maoist in Gariakhaman forest rage under Sambalpur district. He was 55 years old and was posted as in-charge of the BTM outpost of Jharsuguda district but his family resides in official quarter of Sambalpur reserved line. He was on leave for the marriage ceremony of his younger daughter Sujata that was fixed to be held on 1st July. But looking to his past experience in Maoist operation he was requested by the Sambalpur police to join the operation and he did not refused in spite of his busy scheduled. He was suffering from waist-pain but he was sent to lead the force to tackle the red-terror.

“It was an incident that shocked every one. He was bravely fighting every time. Since he developed vast experience in Maoist operation we wanted to utilize him in the operation, we were not aware about his health problem. He also never discloses it before us.” the SP (Sambalpur) Sanjay Kumar told. However the department has taken every possible step to provide all possible help to his family. “The marriage of Mahakud’s daughter would be commenced as per scheduled and department will contribute one lakh from the salary staff along with other benefits. Apart from this we have decided to name ‘Sambalpur Armory’ that has been under construction after him to recall his contribution”, SP Mr. Kumar told.
Meanwhile some of the police officers and Mahakud’s colleagues alleged the senior police officers were all aware of the entry of Maoist from Jharkhand since a long time but did not take proper step to check their infiltration. “When the situation became worst in the infested area, deploying few obedient officers they tried to tackle the situation. Had the police a full-proved arrangement, such incident would not have occurred”, a colleague alleged