Post News Network
Puri, Oct 30: Former Pipli legislator Yudhistir Samantray’s son Priyabrata Samantray (28) and two of the latter’s associates were arrested in the wee hours of Thursday in connection with the recent bomb hurling incidents at Madhipur.
Police said Bapi Sethi (22) and Suryanarayan Swain (24), Priyabrata’s associates, were arrested. Besides, five people earlier detained on charges of inciting violence – Bhimshen Sahu (28), Jitendra Sahu (28) and Loknath Sahu (27) of Sultannagar, Ramchandra Swain (23) of Barundei, and Tapu Swain (25) of Madhipur – were also arrested, said police. Superintendent of police Ashis Kumar Singh said all the accused were sent to jail after a local court rejected their bail pleas.
Priyabrata and his associates had allegedly hatched a plot to attack a resident of Madhipur who recently migrated to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) deserting the Opposition Congress. This had led to clashes between supporters of the two political parties during the Ganesh idol immersion September 25, said police. Several motorcycles were torched and bombs were hurled during the clashes. The miscreants had also hurled a few bombs in Madhipur October 26.
At least eight platoons of armed police personnel led by deputy commandant Lingaraj Mishra were deployed at Madhipur to maintain law and order during the high-profile arrest.
Sources said two senior police officials accompanied by armed police personnel undertook a search operation at the former legislator’s residence around 3 am to arrest Priyabrata. However, the former MLA, who is with Congress, protested against the search operation and brought Priyabrata to Pipli police station in his personal vehicle under tight police security. Police later arrested Priyabrata, said a senior official.
