Keonjhar: A day after Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik was attacked by stone pelters at Bhandari Bihar in Keonjhar district during a campaign rally, Ramachandrapur police – by the time of fling this report on Monday – have arrested eight of the accused.
According to reports, while four of them are members of Congress party, the remaining four are BJD supporters.
It may be mentioned here that Patnaik had yesterday filed a complaint with Ramchandrapur police under Ghasipura Assembly constituency accusing the BJD of orchestrating the attack on him. Himself a contestant from this Assembly seat, he had accused sitting MLA Badri Narayan Patra and his son Debasish Patra for encouraging violence in the run up to polls.
Patnaik along with few of his supporters were injured in this incident. Three of his supporters have sustained severe injuries and have been moved to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment.
Both Congress and BJD have approached the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to report this issue and demanded stringent action against the accused.