A former Zilla Parishad Member Satyananada Mohanty, who is a local BJP leader, has been arrested on the charge of detaining a Government vehicle during an inspection for distribution of relief works after the recent Cyclone Yaas.
According to reports, district Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy and local Tehsildar Dipak Das had gone to Dagara and Chaumukh to assess the damages and losses following the cyclone.
Satyananada Mohanty and his supporters stopped their vehicle alleging irregularities and discriminations by Government officials in distribution of relief materials, including polythene, among the affected people.
The vehicle was detained for a while and tension erupted. However, the Collector assured Mohanty that his issue would be addressed within two days. Following the incident, Tehsildar Das lodged a complaint with police alleging obstruction of Government officials and flouting of Covid protocols against Mohanty and his supporters. Later, Mohanty was arrested.
BJP district president Umakanta Mohapatra and other party leaders have alleged partisan acts by the police and stated that the allegations levelled against Mohany and others are false.
They have threatened to resort to agitation if the case against Mohanty and others is not revoked.
In another incident, the Basta police have arrested eight persons, who had allegedly heckled former Khandapada (Nayagarh district) BJD MLA Anubhav Pattnayak and damaged his vehicle near Haldipada on Friday.
