Khurda: A large number of BJP workers staged a demonstration outside the sub-collector office in Khurda protesting the arrest of party’s MLA candidate Prashant Jagdev, even as Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi alleged a conspiracy by the BJD government.
Demanding immediate and unconditional release of the Chilika MLA, the protesters threatened to block the National Highway and observe a shutdown in Khurda if Jagdev is not set free.
Alleging a conspiracy by the ruling BJD behind the ‘illegal’ police action, the BJP leaders and workers demanded steps to make the booth’s CCTV footage public.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha candidate Aparajita Sarangi alleged that police put pressure on vehicle driver, who stays in Ghatikia area of the state capital, to give a statement against Jagdev.
Seeking to know as to why CCTV footage of the polling booth was not being examined and made public, she said locals claimed that Jagdev did not break any EVM. Therefore, the police must make the CCTV footage of the booth public, she said.
Notably, Jagdev was arrested for allegedly trying to damage an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) during third phase of polling on Saturday. Police picked up Jagdev from Begunia from where he was taken to the Bolagarh police station.
Jagdev had had also staged a demonstration at the police station demanding thorough examination of CCTV camera footage of the Kaunripatna booth.
However, police ignored his demands and kept him in reserve police camp before sending him to jail late Saturday night.
BJP has said that Chilika MLA Jagdev’s arrest is a conspiracy by the ruling party. BJP also said that he was arrested without any FIR or investigation and questioned their action.
