Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pratap Jena claimed that a group of suspended party workers of youth and student wings created a ruckus outside his residence on Friday night in Bhubaneswar.
Jena, a former Minister, shared a video of the incident on X, seeking strict action against those involved in the act. Jena alleged that 15 to 20 intoxicated miscreants forcibly entered his residence and threatened security personnel at gunpoint. Stating that his family members were inside the house at the time, he said the incident was not just an attack, but armed terror.
“Tonight, 15 to 20 intoxicated miscreants, allegedly acting under the direct instructions of a BJD MLA who “sold out Odisha in the Rajya Sabha for money,” forcibly entered my family residence in the heart of Bhubaneswar. They threatened our security personnel at gunpoint and abused and brutally assaulted the house staff, while my family members were inside the house at the time. This was not just an attack, but an act of armed terror,” the BJD leader said in his post.
Jena also urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Director General of Police (DGP) to take immediate action, alleging a serious breakdown of law and order in the state capital.
“I was in Mahanga and returned late at night. Around 15–20 miscreants created a ruckus outside my house at around 11–11:30 pm. They thrashed my security guard and another staff member, wielded a gun, and forcibly entered my premises. Some BJP and suspended BJD workers were involved. They also issued death threats. We have filed an FIR,” he said.
Security has been significantly enhanced at the residence of senior Pratap Jena, following concerns raised by him on social media regarding his safety.
The residence, located in Unit-6 area of Bhubaneswar, is now under heightened surveillance, with personnel deployed by the Commissionerate Police as a precautionary measure.
According to sources, the security reinforcement was initiated after Jena publicly expressed concerns about his safety through social media platforms.
Notably, the incident was stated to have occurred hours after the regional party suspended several leaders for alleged anti-party activities. Eyewitnesses claimed that a group gathered outside Jena’s house, burst firecrackers, and raised slogans, leading to a chaotic situation in the area. When Jena’s family members reportedly objected to the disturbance, an altercation broke out.
BJD had suspended three youth leaders and seven student leaders, with an official notice issued under Jena’s signature citing disciplinary grounds.
