Bhubaneswar: In the wake of a political clash in Odisha’s Jajpur district, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders and workers staged a dharna before the DGP camp office in Bhubaneswar on Monday, demanding the arrest of those involved in the alleged attack on party workers in Dharmasala on Sunday.
As per information, at least 15 people were injured in a clash between supporters of Independent MLA of Dharmasala, Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo and BJD leader Pranab Balabantray in the latter’s farmhouse in Jenapur area of Jajpur district on Sunday. Several vehicles, including bikes and cars, were vandalised in the clash, police said.
The injured were admitted to the Dharmasala Community Health Centre, and later, five of them were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, they said.
Following the clash, several BJD leaders and workers launched a dharna before the camp office of the DGP here, and the dharna is still on. They are demanding the immediate arrest of all persons involved in the attack on BJD workers.
Meanwhile, sources said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, Central Range, is likely to reach DGP Camp in Bhubaneswar for talks with BJD leaders who are protesting over Dharmasala incident.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Independent MLA have also launched a protest before the Jenapur police station in Jajpur district this morning. The MLA’s supporters alleged that BJD workers attacked them and demanded their arrest.
Condemning the violent incident, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly and BJD president Naveen Patnaik alleged that intruders entered the house of Pranab Balabantaray, indulged in vandalism and carried out a life-threatening attack on his supporters.
In a post on X, the BJD president also questioned the alleged police inaction in connection with the incident. “Even though this incident occurred in broad daylight, the fact that the police administration and the government have remained silent spectators and have not taken any action against anyone so far is surprising everyone,” he wrote while demanding strict action against those responsible for the attack.
Naveen further noted that peace-loving people of Odisha will never accept such anarchy and goonda raj.
The BJD alleged that the attackers were supporters of Dharmasala legislator Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo, and staged a protest outside the DGP’s office in Bhubaneswar last evening, demanding immediate arrest of the attackers.
