Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister and BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik Monday paid a visit to BJD’s Bhubaneswar (Central) assembly candidate Ananta Narayan Jena who is undergoing treatment at Capital Hospital following a bomb attack in Jharapada area Sunday.
Amidst his hectic marathon campaigning for his party, the CM reached hospital and met Ananta. Patnaik also wished for his speedy recovery. The CM, who stayed at the hospital for some minutes, took stock of the situation and enquired the doctors about Ananta’s health condition before leaving for his campaigning.
It may be noted here, Biju Janata Dal candidate for Bhubaneswar (Central) Assembly constituency and former Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena was injured in a bomb attack by unknown bike-borne miscreants at Jharparada Canal Road here Sunday evening.
Jena was injured in his head and hand and he was rushed to Capital Hospital by his supporters some of whom were also injured in the attack. The attack on Jena, who was travelling in a four-wheeler, is said to be in retaliation by his political rivals affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Laxmisagar police, meanwhile, reached the spot and are investigating.
Earlier, unknown bike-borne miscreants attacked a vehicle of BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, candidate for Bhubaneswar (Central) seat, at Delta Colony under Nayapalli police station limits. Pradhan escaped the attack with minor injuries.
In this connection, BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, KV Singh Deo and Aparajita Shadangi have met Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar and demanded stringent action against the accused.
Another BJD team comprising Sulata Deo and Sasmit Patra submitted a memorandum to the CEO and alleged that the attack on BJP leader was “fake” and “concocted”.
According to sources, Pradhan was campaigning in the Delta Colony when the miscreants hurled a bomb on his car. He received minor injuries due to splinters in the attack.
Meanwhile, Nayapalli police have reached the spot and started an investigation into the matter.
Supporters of both the parties in the constituency have been engaged in skirmishes for the past few days. Supporters of Pradhan reportedly attacked Ananata Narayan Jena’s vehicle Saturday evening. Jena’s car was also damaged in the incident earlier.
The clash between both the parties started when some BJD supporters pelted stones at a bike rally which was taken out by BJP workers at Unit-8 area. Later, some bike-borne miscreants hurled bombs at the office of the BJP in ward No. 48, April 17 evening.
However, no casualties were reported in the incident as the bombs did not go off and police recovered the live bombs from the spot.
Subsequently, hours later, four bike-borne hooligans threw two bombs at the office of the BJD district organizational president Amaresh Jena at Chintamaniswar.