Berhampur: Tension erupted at Gallary community health centre in Ganjam's Bhanjanagar sub-division, which is 108km from here, after irate locals and employees of the health facility locked up medical officer Sisir Kanta Sabat and his wife Sandhya Rani Sabat in the outdoor for a couple of hours on Monday.

"We locked up both of them because the doctor's wife Sandhya Rani Sabat, who regularly visits the centre with her husband, had allegedly slapped 80-year-old Tilottama Sahu of Badangi. Sahu had come for treatment. She had also attacked the centre's ayush doctor Tapas Ranjan Pradhan. Though she is not a doctor, Sandhya checks the health of patients and prescribes medicines in the presence of Sabat. This is illegal and unethical," said Gallary resident Rabindra Nath Satpathy.

The angry villagers also sat on a dharna outside the centre to protest against the activities of the medical officer's wife. Sabat will retire in four years.

The villagers also demanded restrictions on the activities of Sandhya Rani and immediate transfer of Sabat.

The ayush doctor alleged that Sandhya Rani had beaten him up and also used filthy language.

"I have lodged a complaint against Sandhya Rani Sabat at the Gallary outpost," said Pradhan.

The officer-in-charge of Gallary outpost Ashok Kumar Tripathy said he had registered a case against Sandhya Rani.

Tarasing police station officer Pushpendra Sagar, along with Ashok Kumar Tripathy, had reached the centre on time to rescue Sabat and his wife from the angry villagers and staff.

Chief district medical officer, Ganjam, Jagdish Patnaik deputed assistant district medical officer Sarojini Devi and district project manager of the National Health Mission, Shyam Sundar Tripathy, to visit the spot and conduct a departmental inquiry.

"I have ordered Sandhya Rani Sabat, who is not a medical practitioner, not to come to the health centre. It is a clear violation of that order and I would take disciplinary action within February 25," Patnaik said.