Chatrapur: At a time when the State Government and Ganjam administration are making all-out efforts to prevent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Block Education Officer (BEO) has blatantly violated the COVID norms without botheration.
As per reports, Chatrapur BEO Abhinash Satapathi, who is in additional charge of Khallikote Block, has created controversy for his irresponsible behavior at this pandemic time.
Satapathi held a closed-door meeting with district education officials, including ABEOs, CRCs and TCs at SM High School in Khallikote block on Saturday completely defying the government guidelines.
The BEO conducted the meeting when the weekend shutdown was in force in the entire State.
The meeting was held in small room where following the COVID appropriate behavior was very tough, according to sources.
The controversial BEO had allegedly made the officials to wait for almost two hours in the room for the meeting to be held.
He had also misbehaved a local journalist who went to the school for reporting the event and snatched his mobile phone when the latter tried to capture video of the incident.
A brief tense atmosphere prevailed at the school as the BEO allegedly hurled verbal abuses to the journalist.
The situation was brought under control following the intervention of Tahasildar and local police.
Meanwhile, the journalists have condemned the unruly behavior of the BEO at the pandemic time and sought strong action against him by the district administration.