Prime Accused In Saheed Nagar PS Vandalism Case Arrested

Prakash Tripathy (middle)

Bhubaneswar: A week after the ransacking of Saheed Nagar police station and assault on four policemen by a group of miscreants, the Commissionerate Police on Saturday arrested the prime accused, Prakash Tripathy, from his residence at VSS Nagar here.

Tripathy, who is the state vice-president of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD), will be forwarded to the court later in the day, police said.

Soon after his arrest, Tripathy was removed from his post by the party leadership, BYJD president Amaresh Patri told the media here.

The incident took place on March 3 night when Tripathy was assaulted by two vehicle owners he was trying to pacify following a road accident near GL Colony in the city. He then went to the Saheed Nagar police station and lodged a complaint after which the police picked up three accused, including the two vehicle owners.

The trouble began when the police reached the police station with the arrested people. Around 8-10 supporters of Tripathy suddenly attacked them and tried to drag the three men out of the PCR van. His supporters chased the accused inside the police station. They severely thrashed four policemen, including assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) MCH Murmu and Abhaya Rout, inspector-in-charge Biranchi Pati and a constable, as they tried to shield the accused. They also ransacked the police station, damaging flower vases, television sets, telephones and CCTV cameras.

The miscreants fled the police station on the arrival of three platoons of police.

Two days after the incident, police had arrested six persons on March 5. They were on the hunt for Tripathy as he had stage-managed and instigated his supporters to perpetrate this act of vandalism in the police station.

Tripthay is also a former president of Utkal University Students’ Union.