Locals Ransack Begunia PS, Demand Arrest Of MLA

Khurda: Tension ran high at Begunia in Odisha’s Khurda district after irate locals, demanding arrest the local BJD MLA, ransacked the police station on Wednesday afternoon.

On December 31 last year, Begunia MLA Prasant Jagdev had allegedly assaulted former Begunia sarpanch Naba Kishore Swain in presence of the BDO and tehsildar at the block office and threatened to kill him if he visits any village under Begunia panchayat.

Though Swain had lodged a complaint in Begunia police station, no action was initiated against the MLA.

Protesting against gross police inaction, thousands of people of Begunia and Bolagada gheraoed the police station in the afternoon.

Things turned ugly when police stopped some protesters from entering the police station. The irate mob then broke the lock of the main gate of the police station, ransacked the office properties and attacked some policemen in which Assistant Sub-Inspector Mahendra Sethi was injured.

The protesters, who later staged a road blockage on National Highway-57, told the media that the blockade will continue till the local MLA is arrested.

Apprehending law and order situation, three platoons of armed police force have been deployed in Begunia.

Meanwhile, senior police officers have rushed to Begunia to take stock of the situation.