Bhadrak: Odisha Congress vice president Arya Kumar Gyanendra Sunday accused Biju Janata Dal workers of assaulting him while he was on his way with his friends to procure some food. The incident took place at Banta square of Bhadrak.
Speaking to OrissaPOST after the incident, Gyanendra alleged that the incident was sponsored by Bhandaripokhari seat BJD candidate Prafulla Kumar Samal and was carried out by his aides.
Questioned about his presence in the constituency even after the campaign got over last evening, Gyanendra said that he was there to oversee polls as an observer for PCC President Niranjan Patnaik and had been camping there for the past 15 days. He also ruled out the money distribution angle and claimed that he had only Rs4,000 with him at the time of attack.
“I was going for breakfast along with few of my aides at about 11.20 in the morning. As many as 50 BJD supporters stopped my vehicle on the way and ransacked it. Unable to find any cash, liquor or other objectionable material even after a thorough search of my car, they snatched away my gold chain and Rs4,000 in cash that I was carrying. These apart, they also roughed me up,” he said while adding that out of fear of loss BJD’s Samal has carried out this attack on him.
An FIR has been lodged with the police in connection with the alleged assault and they are looking into the issue.
We were not able to get a reaction from Samal or BJD at press time.