Bhubaneswar: Political tensions escalated in Odisha following the arrest of B Somanath Patra, the BJP Yuva Morcha president for Ganjam district, accused of obstructing police officers during a child labour rescue operation.
According to police , a team from the Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (IAHTU) in Berhampur was conducting a raid at a hotel in Rangeilunda Market area, under Gopalpur police limits, when they rescued two minor child labourers. While the team was leaving the spot with the rescued children, Somanath allegedly restrained the personnel, abused them, attempted to snatch the minors and issued threats.
Following a complaint lodged at the Gopalpur police station, Patra was taken into custody on Saturday night. Thirty-six-year-old Patra, a resident of Bhabhi Narayanpur in Rangeilunda block, was also involved in two other criminal cases earlier registered against him at Gopalpur police station, police added.
In response to the action, a delegation of Ganjam district BJP leaders, led by district president Saroj Sabat, gathered at the state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar to voice strong protests. District leaders met with top state BJP leadership to question the circumstances of the arrest and discuss the political fallout last evening.
Meanwhile, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) targeted the state government, alleging political interference in police functioning and questioning whether law enforcement had come under pressure to apply lenient charges against the youth leader.