8 Arrested For Attack On Odisha Cong Chief At Ghasipura

Keonjhar: The police on Monday arrested eight persons in connection with poll-related violence in Ghasipura Assembly seat.

Over 10 Congress workers were injured when Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik’s vehicle was attacked while he was in Ghasipura segment of Keonjhar district on Sunday.

The incident took place at Bhandaripoda under Ramachandrapur police station, an hour after campaigning for the third phase of the ongoing simultaneous elections ended at 5pm. Ghasipura, where polling will be held on April 23, is seeing a high-profile battle between Niranjan and BJD minister Badri Narayan Patra.

Eyewitnesses said Niranjan escaped unhurt, but over 10 of his supporters were injured. Two of them were hit with stones and sustained head injuries. Some BJD workers allegedly stopped Niranjan’s convoy and questioned as to why he was campaigning beyond the deadline, leading to heated exchanges and clashes.

Niranjan alleged that Patra orchestrated the attack through his acolytes. Patra dismissed the allegation and said Niranjan was moving around the constituency with Congress hooligans from outside Ghasipura and spreading a reign of terror.

It was also alleged that some criminals attacked the vehicle of Sanakhemundi MLA candidate Ramesh Jena, now a party observer.

While Ghasipura has been infamous for political violence, it has been worst this year. Ramachandra Behera was killed in March, a day before he was supposed to quit the Congress and join the BJD. The case is being investigated.