Suspected Cop Caught ‘Snooping’ On Union Ministers In Odisha’s Bypoll-Bound Padampur

Bargarh: A man was allegedly caught snooping on Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Narendra Singh Tomar while they were having lunch at a BJP leader’s house at Purushottampur village after campaigning in bypoll-bound Padampur in Odisha’s Bargarh district on Sunday.

According to sources, he was found wandering suspiciously in the area and clicking pictures of the ministers. When questioned by the security officers of the Union Ministers, he identified himself as a staffer of the District Intelligence Bureau posted at Balangir.

BJP MP from Kalahandi Basanta Panda was also seen questioning him. He reportedly told him that he was performing his duty as directed by his seniors.

Members of Lok Sabha Suresh Pujari, Pratap Sarangi and Odisha BJP President Samir Mohanty were also present at the get-together.

On being grilled further, he fled the spot but his ID card and mobile phone fell off his pocket. On the ID card, his name was mentioned as CID Special Branch ASI Bhojaraj Das.

Suspecting him to be a fake intelligence officer,  BJP’s youth leader Pritosh Bahidar has lodged a complaint in this regard with the Padampur police.