Bramhapur: BJP’s youth wing president in Odisha’s Ganjam district, B Somanath Patra, has been arrested for allegedly obstructing police personnel from performing their duty and verbally abusing them during a child labour rescue operation, police said Sunday.
According to officials, a police team from Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (IAHTU), Bramhapur, was conducting a raid against child labour at a hotel in Rangeilunda Bazar in Gopalpur police station area Friday night.
The team rescued two minors who were working as suppliers in the hotel. While the team was leaving with the rescued minors, Patra wrongfully restrained the police personnel, used abusive language, attempted to snatch the children, and intimidated the police team with threats, an officer said.
After a case was registered against him at Gopalpur police station under various sections of the BNS, he was arrested Saturday night, the police officer said.
Thirty-six-year-old Patra, a resident of Bhabhi Narayanpur in Rangeilunda block, was also involved in two other criminal cases earlier registered against him at Gopalpur police station, he added.
