Minister’s Cook Death: Over 300 Detained, Prohibitory Order Clamped In Jharsuguda As BJP, BJD Clash

By OB Bureau On Apr 24, 2022

Jharsuguda: Tension prevailed in Jharsuguda town on Sunday as a clash ensued between BJP workers and members of two organisations supported by BJD during protest by both groups over alleged suicide of the cook of Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das.

Alleging the minister’s involvement in the death of his cook Lalit Kumar Sahu, the BJP had called for gherao of Jharsuguda police station on Sunday. Similarly, two citizens’ associations of the town, supported by ruling BJD, had announced to stage demonstration demanding police action against BJP leaders on the basis of complaint of Lalit’s father Belarsan Sahu.

Anticipating law and order problem in the town, the district administration had imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the areas around Jharsuguda police station and from Jhanda Chhak to Dharmasala Chhak.

According to sources, while the BJP activists were coming in a rally as part of their police station gherao call, they came face to face with the BJD workers staging protest at Jhanda Chhak and a clash ensued between the two protesting groups.

The police deployed at the spot rounded up around 300 people belonging to both groups and detained them to prevent escalation of law and order problem.

BJP leader of Jharsuguda Dinesh Jain said several activists of his party including women were inured in the attack by BJD workers.

Following the incident, movement of vehicular traffic was disrupted on the main road of the town. Security has been beefed up in the area and s large number of police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.

It may be noted that the minister’s cook, Lalit who was staying in the staff quarters of the former’s official residence in Jharsuguda, was found hanging in his quarters on last Sunday. The BJP had alleged the minister’s complicity in the case and demanded a high-level inquiry.

On the BJP’s allegation, minister Naba Das had on Saturday said the law would take its own course and the matter should not be politicised as the investigation was on.