The BJP’s Odisha unit on Tuesday suspended five of its workers, including corporator Jeevan Raut, for their alleged participation in violence in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office from the party’s initial membership.
The suspended members were Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, Debashish Pradhan, Sachikant Swain and Sanjeev Mishra.
Action was taken after attacking with an on-duty Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer at its office chamber at BMC campus. The incident occurred when the officer, Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahu, was holding a complaint redressal meeting in his room. The attackers slapped, punched and kicked the officer, dragged him from his office and forced him to apologize to BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan.
Based on Sahu’s complaint, Bhubaneswar police arrested three people – Debashish Pradhan and Mohapatra. A case has been registered under various BNS classes including 109 (attempt to murder). Police sources said that more people will be arrested soon in the case.
Although BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan condemned the incident, he alleged that the BMC officer had abused a woman cleanliness worker to attend the rallies organized by the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister.
The Prime Ministers told reporters, “When the female cleanliness worker informed me about the misconduct, I called the officer (Sahu) to inquire about it. He then abused me,” Pradhan told reporters.
However, Pradhan denied the allegations that he had asked his supporters to attack the BMC official.
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The OAs Association, who called its members to go on a large scale on a large scale in protest against the attack, postponed the move after a late night meeting with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and senior officials who assured strict action against criminals.
BMC employees continue to protest on Tuesday.
Reacting to the incident, BMC Commissioner Rajesh Patil said that steps are being taken to increase security in the office to ensure such incidents in future.
Administrative Service Officer attacked (T) Bhubaneswar Police Arrest (T) Debashish Pradhan BJP (T) Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra Nilamban (T) Sachikant Swain BJP (T) Sanjeev Mishra BJP (T) BJP Violence Rajesh Patil (T) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Response (T) BMC Office Security Measures (T) OAS Eddha (T) OAS Edisha (T) BJP internal disciplinary action (T) Odisha Civic Body Assault Case
