Odisha Elections 2024: Independent Candidate Soumya Patnaik Stages Dharna Against Police Action

Bhubaneswar: Khandapada MLA and Independent candidate for the Assembly elections from Ghasipura seat in Keonjhar district on Tuesday staged a dharna against repressive measures of police.

Sitting on a dharna along with hundreds of his supporters in front of Ramachandrapur police station in the constituency, Soumya alleged that the police had arrested eight of his supporters on Sunday under pressure from present Ghasipura MLA and BJD candidate Badri Narayan Patra.

Stating that it was not the only instance of police partiality, the former editor of a vernacular daily said though the model code of conduct was in force, the police had remained silent spectator to hooliganism of Patra’s supporters.

“It seems that I am fighting the elections not against any political party but against the system and its machinery. I urge the BJD nominee to come forward for a debate on the issues pertaining to Ghasipura instead of misusing the police to take repressive measures against my supporters,” he said.

He expressed his concern over the atmosphere of violence prevalent in the area. “The day I filed my nomination papers, I had taken a pledge to root out violence from the constituency. Violence has no place in a democracy. But some leaders have resorted to violence through criminals and anti-socials to achieve political gains,” Soumya said.

He said police had arrested eight of his supporters in connection with murder of Sunanda Sethi, son of Panchanan Sethi, in Khalana panchayat under Ramchandrapur police limits in 2022.

The family members of a few accused had lodged a counter complaint against the relatives of deceased Sunanda in 2023. Sunanda’s family had approached the Orissa High Court for protection against any action by the police.

While hearing the case, the HC had sought the case diary and injury report before finalising a new date for further hearing of the case. The court had also restricted the police to take any action against Sunanda’s family till the next hearing in the case.

Despite the high court order, the police arrested two members of Sunanda’s family on Monday. “The police took action against Sunanda’s family as they have extended their support to me in the election,” said Soumya.