Women gherao a police station in Balasore in protest against inaction in a dowry death case. Telegraph picture

Balasore, May 28: More than 300 persons, including women, gheraoed the Jaleswar police station today in protest against alleged police inaction in a dowry death case.

Holding broomsticks and shoes and shouting slogans against the inspector, the agitated villagers of three gram panchayats demanded his transfer.

The agitated villagers from Nandika, Arunha and Nampo alleged that inspector in-charge Dhaneswar Sahu did not act on the complaint following the death of one Gitarani Biswal (22) of Nandika.

Parents of Gitarani had alleged that she was poisoned to death by her in-laws over a dowry demand in the absence of her husband, who worked at a private firm in Mumbai.

While her father-in-law was arrested last night, the agitators alleged that the mother-in-law was spared by the police deliberately.

“The case was registered four days after the incident took place and the complainants were ill-treated,” said Madhusudan Dutta, former sarpanch of Arunha gram panchayat, who led the agitation .

Inspector in-charge Sahu, however, said that the complaint was lodged late by the complainant and the FIR was registered the same day.

“We immediately registered a case under sections 498 (A), 304(B) and 34 of IPC and arrested the deceased’s father-in-law. As we did not find a role of the mother-in-law, we did not arrest her,” said Sahu.

The police officer alleged that the agitation was organised by a group of persons with vested interests.

Balasore police chief, who was on leave, could not be contacted. Additional superintendent of police Sudarshan Barik, who reached the spot, discussed the issue with the agitators. The agitation continued till the filing of this report.

Speaking to The Telegraph, district collector A.B. Ota said: “I have asked the additional SP to take stock of the situation and take immediate steps to end the crisis.”