Cuttack: Employees of Tangi Block Office in Odisha launched a pen-down strike on Monday, refusing to attend official duties and staging a peaceful sit-in within the office premises.
They are demanding strict action against actor-turned-BJP leader Arindam Roy and BJP leader Abhaya Barik over allegations of misbehaviour and intimidation of Assistant Block Development Officer (ABDO) Shashwat Jena.
The incident reportedly occurred during a Panchayat Committee meeting a few days earlier. Tension escalated in the area, prompting heavy police deployment, including two platoons, to maintain law and order. BJD leaders and supporters also protested outside the block office, calling for the immediate arrest of Roy and Barik.
An FIR was also lodged against Roy, Barik, and several BJP workers on Sunday at Tangi police station. Tangi Block chairperson Minakshi Das filed the complaint, alleging that Roy, Barik, and accompanying activists threatened and misbehaved with the ABDO. The case includes charges related to forceful entry, disruption of public service, and issuing threats.
The Viral Video
The heated confrontation inside the government office has become the talk of political and administrative circles in the state. In a video that has since gone viral, the officer is seen visibly shaken by Roy’s aggressive tone, finger-pointing, and blunt remarks — including the pointed question, “How much PC are you eating?”
The incident has raised questions about whether it was a genuine outburst by a ruling party representative or a calculated attempt to bully and intimidate the official.
Roy’s Defence
Roy has strongly denied the allegations, breaking his silence through a public clarification. He stated that he visited the block office for a scheduled appointment with the Block Development Officer (BDO) to raise legitimate public issues concerning local residents. According to Roy, the BDO was absent upon arrival, leading to an interaction with the ABDO.
“There is no truth in the allegations that I abused or misbehaved with the ABDO. I only raised my voice after officials failed to provide satisfactory answers to the issues I raised,” Roy said.
He further claimed that the Tangi block administration has been deliberately harassing BJP supporters and excluding them from official programmes and meetings, turning the office into what he described as a “BJD office.”
Roy added that he and other BJP workers had staged a protest against this alleged bias and neglect of public concerns.
