Post News Network
Gondturum, Jan 31: Election to Rushuda Credit Cooperative Society under Bheden block of Bargarh district turned ugly after a youth lodged a complaint with police alleging kidnapping of his father by opposition groups to prevent him from exercising his franchise.
The complaint was lodged by Durga Prasad Ranbida of Hatagaon village at Bheden police station Thursday.
The youth alleged that three youths, backed by handloom and textile minister Snehangini Chhuria, kidnapped his father Sugriba Ranabida before election. Though the youths, identified as Dyumat Sen Rana, Sadananda Khamari and Palli Satyanarayan, have released him after the election was over January 25, Sugriba has not returned home yet, the youth said.
Sources said second phase elections for 11 zones of Rushuda Credit Cooperative Society were held January 25. Two candidates had filed their nominations from Zone 15 of the society. While Sadananda Khamari got four votes to emerge victorious from the zone, his opponent Mayadhar Mallick received only three votes.
However, Sugriba, who has been supporting Mallick, could not exercise his vote after being kidnapped by the three youths, Durga Prasad said, adding the three youths called his father to the village end in January 18 evening and threatened him over his support to Mallick. They also offered financial help to stay away from the polls.
After he refused to comply, they took him to Bhubaneswar and held him captive in quarters of handloom and textile minister. Sugriba was freed once the polls were over, Durga Prasad said. Minister Chhuria rubbished the allegations of her involvement in the incident.
“I have no role in the voter’s kidnapping. It is a political conspiracy against me to malign my image,” she said. A case has been registered in this regard.