Expelled BJD Leader Pradeep Panigrahi Alleges Police Harassment; Writes To Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi has alleged harassment by police on his relatives and supporters after his expulsion from the BJD on  charges of anti-people activities.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP), Panigrahi stated that he is being used as a scapegoat to divert public attention from issues pertaining to Pari murder case, Amrut Das death and farmers’ suicide. “Though there is no official complaint registered against me, the police are picking up my relatives and family members at midnight and resorting to third-degree torture to extract statements from them in order to lodge FIR against me,” he said.

He further said he has no idea whether Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is aware of the conspiracy against him. “I had called the Chief Minister to talk about these incidents over the phone. But, I was not allowed,” he pointed out.