Tihidi: The BJP Tuesday intensified its protests over the alleged inaction by the police and the excise department against the main accused in the hooch tragedy that has claimed 10 lives in Chandbali in Bhadrak district.
The saffron party workers staged protest meetings at Pirahat, alleging that the main accused in the hooch tragedy has still not been arrested. They alleged that the police have arrested innocent people, but failed to arrest the main accused, even though the party has filed an FIR against those involved in the tragedy.
The party leaders observed that the families who have lost their members to the spurious liquor have not yet got justice.
Upset over the tardy pace of probe, a BJP delegation had earlier met the collector and the SP, seeking immediate arrest of an MLA and his associates.
The BJP leaders Tuesday warned of intensifying their agitation if the police and the excise department fail to take action against the guilty.
The saffron party team alleged that the Chandbali MLA and his supporters were responsible for the unfortunate incident that had taken place in Doulatpur and nearby areas.
The BJP leaders including Abhimanyu Sethi, Kamalakant Sutar, Kanhucharan Behera, Purnachandra Pani, Raghunath Patra, Mangaraj Nayak, Sangram Mohanty, Muktikant Nayak, Rajaram Mahakud, Narayan Senapati, Ashok Rout, Anil Behera, Anadi Barik and Sanjay Barik took part in the dharna.
Earlier, a delegation of BJP leaders including Lankeswar Mandal, Sashikant Biswal, Sangram Keshari Mohanty, Manas Ranjan Nayak, Kamalakant Nayak, Samarendra Barik and Umakant Mahakud had submitted a memorandum to SP Rajesh Pandit May 11.
In the memorandum, the BJP leaders asserted that on the instructions of the Chandbali MLA over 10 people had distributed spurious liquor to voters in Pirahat and other areas April 29 to influence voting. After drinking the liquor, 10 people had died while over 100 people were admitted to the district headquarters hospital and some private hospitals.
PNN
