Student Congress Activists Clash With Cops Near OSSC Office In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of activists of the Student Congress clashed with police near the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) office in the city on Monday.

The Odisha Pradesh Chhatra Congress activists were demanding an investigation into the recruitment of candidates following the arrest of Biranchi Sahu, private secretary to the OSSC member, by the State Vigilance.

The activists claimed Sahu’s arrest was testimony to corruption in the Commission. “The arrest of the private secretary is not enough as all OSSC staffers from top to bottom are neck-deep in corruption. We demand that the State Vigilance must interrogate all staffers,” they pointed out.

They further alleged that due to rampant corruption by the OSSC authorities, deserving candidates are deprived of recruitment.

Tension ran high after the Student Congress activists tried to barge into the OSSC office and prevented by police. leading to a scuffle bwetween the two sides.

Police later arrested some of the agitators.

Meanwhile, the State Vigilance has registered a case against Sahu’s wife and brother-in-law for their alleged complicity in the case.

According to Vigilance sources, the mobile phone seized from Sahu contains the numbers of several candidates who have been recruited and appointed in several departments in the past 10 years.

Vigilance officials, who have also seized a number of admit cards, are trying to retrieve the call details and WhatsApp chats of the private secretary.

While Sahu is now lodged in Jharpada Special Jail, the anti-corruption wing will seek the Special Vigilance Court’s permission to take him on remand for interrogation.

Notably, Vigilance officials had detected disproportionate assets amounting to Rs 3.79 crore during a recent raid against Sahu in Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: Vig Raids On Houses Of Pvt Secy To OSSC Member In Odisha