Bhubaneswar: Jajpur Police have arrested four persons in connection with the alleged attack on the vehicle of BJD leader and former Dharmasala MLA Pranab Kumar Balabantaray on Sunday.
They have been forwarded to court, sources said on Tuesday.
The incident took place at Aruha village under Jenapur police limits in Jajpur district when the BJD leader was on his way to attend the Hingula Yajna. While he was rescued by police unharmed, his vehicle was severely damaged by the club-wielding group, which allegedly also carried bhujali and swords.
The attack had triggered a political furore in the state with Balabantaray claiming that it was plot by local Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo to kill him, which the latter denied.
Balabantaray’s vehicle was also attacked in Dharmasala area in October 2024.
Condemning the incident, BJD president Naveen Patnaik said that it was a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. ”If public representatives are unsafe, it raises serious concern about the safety of common citizens,” he wrote on X.
Senior BJD leader Bhrugu Baxipatra told a presser that a delegation of party leaders will meet the DGP if the culprits are not arrested within 48 hours.
Later in the day, Industries Minister Sampad Swain claimed that the attack on Balabantaray was carried out by BJD workers, pointing to dissent and failure of discipline within the party. He also ridiculed Naveen for his post, reminding him of the incidents which took place during the 25-year BJD rule in the state.
