Cash Worth Rs 3.2 Lakh Seized In Poll-Bound Bijepur

Bargarh: While the Election Commission has enforced the model code of conduct for the byelection to Bijepur Assembly constituency in Odisha’s Bargarh district slated for February 24, seizure of cash from two vehicles in the constituency by police on Wednesday has triggered fresh confrontation between the ruling BJD and BJP.

Sources said police during the checking of vehicles near Talapali High School in Gaisilat block in the morning, detained two vehicles bearing registration number OD-02-AJ-6633 and OR-17-E-5040 and recovered cash Rs 3.20 lakh.

Police later detained two persons Haraprasad Sahu and Mohammad Riaz from Ganjam district.

The duo during interrogation told  police that they were carrying the cash for business.

Though it was not clear as to from where they had sourced the cash and to whom the cash was to be given, the seizure has triggered speculations that the cash was meant for distribution among the voters.

Following the incident, a delegation of the BJP led by the party’s chief spokesperson Sajjan Sharma went to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar in Bhubaneswar and submitted a memorandum.

The delegation told the CEO that police is dancing to the tune of the BJD leader and minister Sushant Singh in Bijepur in gross violation of the model code of conduct.

Stating that Tela Mahula Chhak in Bargarh district is the main entry point from Padmapur to Bijepur and Gaisilat, Sharma said though police have erected a check gate for checking of vehicles coming towards Bijepur and Gaisilat, no policeman has been posted there. On the other hand, police are deliberately allowing the vehicles of BJD supporters and detaining the vehicles of the BJP supporters.

He urged the CEO to directed the district administration and police to immediately install CCTV cameras at Tela Mahula check gate with 24-hour deployment of police with regular checking of vehicles.