Briefing media persons, Additional SP, Bargarh, Jasobant Parida said police has registered two cases and arrested Hero Majhi, Santosh Suna, Rajkumar Sahu and Bikash Pradhan who have no political connections.
“The attack on Acharya is not the outcome of any political acrimony rather it was due to sudden provocations,” he maintained.
He further said that one of the arrested Santosh Suna has lodged a complaint against Acharya of abusing him in public with casteist remark.
The incident took place when Acharya, accompanied by BJP state secretary Ranjan Patel had gone to meet former Sambalpur BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra lodged at the Sohela sub jail for his alleged involvement in the attack on Subrat Singh, brother of BJD leader and minister Susant Singh, and his men at Banabira on February 22.
After arriving near the sub jail, the duo got down of the SUV when a group of youths numbering about 25-26 arrived at the spot and suddenly launched a concerted attack on Acharya with lathis and iron rods after identifying him. They also roughed up Patel as he tried to resist their attack on Acharya.
The miscreants later fled the area presuming that Acharya was dead.
Acharya was later rushed to Bargarh district headquarters hospital where he had nine stitches on his head.
Talking to media persons, Achyara said the gang was led by Hero Majhi (of the four arrested) who was sent by Susant Singh and his brother Subrat to eliminate him.
Meanwhile, protesting the attack, the BJP activists on Sunday staged dharna in front of the office of the Superintendent of Police in Bargarh alleging the involvement of Susant Singh in the attack and demanding his arrest.
Refuting the allegations, Singh said the incident was due to provocations. “The BJP is trying its best to come to power in the ensuing Assembly elections in 2019 by terrorizing the people and indulging in violence and murder,” he pointed out.
Talking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, state BJP chief spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said for the first time in the state politics, the chief minister has taken the responsibility of triggering violence. But the people of Odisha would given him a fitting reply in the ensuing elections.
Protesting the attack on the two party leaders, BJP MLA Rabi Nayak had staged a dharna under the podium of the Speaker inside the State Assembly on the last day of the first phase budget session.
