Jajpur: Odisha police have registered two separate FIRs in connection with the attack on BJD leader Pranab Balabantray allegedly by supporters of Independent MLA Himanshu Sekha Sahoo October 4 night in Odisha’s Jajpur district, an officer said Monday.
While one complaint has been received from Balabantray, another FIR was received from the supporters of Sahoo, Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal said.
He said both the complaints have been lodged at Jenapur police station and that both the complaints are being investigated.
“CCTV footage and mobile recording of the incident are being collected. We have started the process to identify the accused involved in the crime with the help of video footage. Appropriate legal action would be taken after the investigation,” the SP said.
He said police personnel have been deployed at the spot and a senior police officer from district police headquarters is supervising the investigation.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik has expressed deep concern over the attack on people’s representatives in the BJP regime.
Balabantray, former MLA of Dharmasala, was allegedly attacked by a group of around 50 armed miscreants at Gada Madhupur village under Jenapur police limits on Sunday when he was leading a BJD’s ‘Jan Sampark Padyatra’.
Balabantaray, however, escaped unhurt as his supporters rescued him in the melee. He alleged that the BJP and local MLA’s supporters attacked him in the presence of more than 40 policemen. His vehicle suffered major damage.
While Sahoo was yet to make any statement on the allegations, his supporters have lodged a complaint against Balabantray, accusing him of breaching peace in the locality.
Later on Sunday night, Balabantray, along with BJD leaders including Binjharpur MLA Pramila Malik, Jajpur MLA Sujata Sahu, Bari MLA Biswaranjan Mallick, former ministers Pranab Prakash Das and Pritiranjan Ghadei, former Jajpur MP Shramistha Sethy, sat on a dharna in front of the SP’s office demanding arrest of the people involved in the attack.
The agitating leaders gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the police to take action against the attackers of Balbantray.
However, the protest was withdrawn on Sunday night after Jajpur SP assured that all miscreants would be arrested within 48 hours. The SP also said four policemen would be provided to Balbantray for his round-the-clock safety and security.
Supporters of Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahu staged a separate protest outside the Jenapur police station demanding action against Balbantray for causing unrest in the area Sunday night.
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