Post News Network
Bhuaneswar: Two senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders have added to the woes of the government by saying that the crime empire of Ramesh Jena, the former Congress MLA from Sanakhemundi who was arrested recently, flourished with the support of the police, the administration and politicians.
The statements by Aska MP Ladu Kishor Swain and cooperation and excise minister Damodar Rout Tuesday come against the backdrop of the scathing attack by the opposition on the law and order situation in the state.
“The crime empire of Jena has flourished with support from the police and administration,” said Swain at secretariat here. “There should be an enquiry into it (the alleged nexus between police and criminals in his locality),” he said.
The police is favouring people with criminal backgrounds and also receiving favours from them, Swain said. The police have not paid much heed to his complaints though he is an MP of the ruling party and was an MLA earlier, Swain said.
He condemned the Congress for supporting people with a criminal record and opposing Jena’s arrest.
Rout, who is known for his controversial remarks, supported Swain’s view and said that the criminal activities of Jena were a result of the support from politicians and the administration.
The remarks of Swain and Rout prompted Congress leaders to train their guns on the BJD government. Congress leader and former MLA Santosh Singh Saluja criticised the government for harassing Jena and his family. “The statements of ruling party leaders is clearing exposing the law and order situation in the state and also questioning the role of the home department,” Saluja said.
Congress leader Suresh Rout claimed that Jena had been arrested only to serve the interests of the state government.
However, BJD spokesperson Samir Ranjan Das differed with the statements given by Swain and Rout and also rubbished the allegation of Congress leaders. “If the MP has any evidence regarding a nexus between the police and Jena, he should bring it to the notice of the Chief Minister,” Das said.
