Bhubaneswar: Khurda Police are on the hunt for the absconding BJD MLA Prashant Jagdev, who was suspended from the party for allegedly thrashing local BJP leader Niranjan Sethi at Balugan on September 8.
Following the incident, the MLA was booked under Section 3 (r) (intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe in any place within public view) and (s) (abusing any member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe by caste name in any place within public view) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
After failing to contact Jagdev over the phone, a team of Khurda Police led by SDPO Sushil Mishra visited his official residence (IVR-305) in Bhubaneswar on Friday for interrogation but he was nowhere to be found.
A notice would be sent to Jagdev after consulting the higher officials on Monday, a police officer said.
Meanwhile, Khurda BJP unit president Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra has demanded immediate arrested of the BJD MLA. “We will stage demonstrations at the office of Khurda SP (Rural) on Monday over this demand,” he added.
On September 8, Javdev allegedly thrashed Balugan Nagar BJP president Niranjan Sethi when had gone to the NAC office to enquire about the reasons for the delay in releasing the work order to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) beneficiaries.
Also Read: Suspended BJD MLA Prashant Jagdev’s Run-Ins With Law
He was rescued by his supporters. Later, the BJP workers staged a dharna in front of Balugaon police station demanding the arrest of Jagdev.
Barely hours after the incident, BJD president Naveen Patnaik suspended Jagdev from the party without citing any reason.
Also Read: Odisha’s BJD Suspends Chilika MLA Prashant Jagdev From Party
