Bhubaneswar: Chhattisgarh Police have detained Bishal Das, son of former Odisha minister and three-time Jharsuguda MLA Naba Das, along with some Samiti members and sarpanchs of Kirmira block at Saraipali in the neighbouring state.
This comes hours before the crucial no-confidence motion against Kirmira block chairman, raising questions about the timing and motives behind the police action.
Bishal’s sister and former Jharsuguda MLA Deepali Das alleged that the detentions are an attempt to sabotage the no-confidence motion. “Local police detained some samiti members of Kirmira block and their family members. They urged them to let them go, saying that they had to participate in the no-confidence motion at 10.30 the next morning and also gave them in writing about the same. Without any legal procedure, the case was later handed over to Chhattisgarh Police. They panicked and called us for help. Following which, my brother along with his associates left to check on the situation but was detained there too at around 1 am,” she told reporters.
While questioning the motive behind the detentions since last night, Deepali accused police of acting under political pressure. “The voting for the no-confidence motion will end by noon. The Mohan Majhi government is so scared of the democratic process that it has illegally detained the sarpanchs and Samiti members. Our advocates were also denied any access to them. Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments and Jharsuguda SP will responsible if anything happens to my brother,” she said.
She criticised both the hotel search and her brother’s unwarranted detention by Chhattisgarh police before the no-confidence motion against the Kirmira block chairman. “My father, Naba Das, was shot dead by a policeman and now my brother has again been detained by police,” she said, seeking a guarantee for his safety.
In a video, Bishal can be seen appealing for their release. “We have been illegally detained at a police station in Chhattisgarh. Our lives are under threat. We urge the Odisha government and the DGP to intervene and ensure our safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed these allegations. “The Chhattisgarh police should explain their reasons for detaining Bishal. Our party is not involved in the matter,” senior BJP leader Biranchi Narayan Tripathy said.
No response has so far been obtained from Chhattisgarh Police.
