Turmoil Erupts in Bhubaneswar: Assault on Senior Municipal Officer Sparks Outrage

Tensions escalate in Bhubaneswar as Ratnakar Sahoo, a senior municipal officer, is assaulted and nearly abducted by a group of men. BMC Mayor and BJD leaders demand swift action and arrests. Naveen Patnaik criticizes political involvement and calls for exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

On Monday, Bhubaneswar was gripped by tension as Ratnakar Sahoo, the Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, was reportedly attacked. According to BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, a group of five to six men allegedly dragged Sahoo from his office, assaulted, and attempted to abduct him. Das urged authorities to press charges of attempted murder against the perpetrators and demanded immediate arrests.

Addressing the press, Mayor Das expressed concern over safety, citing the violence against a government official as a dangerous precedent. Visual evidence was shared with media outlets, showing the severity of the attack. Despite an FIR being filed, only three individuals were arrested, prompting BJD leaders and workers to stage a protest that resulted in several detentions by police.

BJD MLA Ananta Narayan Jena called for the arrest of Jagannath Pradhan, believed to be the ringleader in the assault on Sahoo. He criticized the administration's handling of the case, reiterating demands for the apprehension of all those involved. Meanwhile, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik condemned the brutal attack and urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take swift, decisive action against not just the attackers but also those allegedly politically orchestrating the violence.

(With inputs from agencies.)