In a post-poll violence, about a dozen of BJP supporters, all Dalits, sustained injuries as a defeated BJD Sarpanch candidate’s men attacked them at Mangalapur under Mahakalpada block on Wednesday night.
Four of the injured have been admitted to the Mahakalpada CHC as they were found critical.
In protest, locals gheraoed the Mahakalapada police station demanding arrest of the assailants, said IIC Sukanta Kumar Patra
According to sources, BJD-supported Sarpanch candidate Bibhupada Parida and PS candidate Manjulata Samantaray lost to the BJP-supported candidates in the poll held on February 13.
BJD supporters allegedly blamed Dalits for Parida and Samantaray’s defeats. They attacked Dalits on Wednesday night.
Families of the injured have lodged an FIR at the police station. Acting on their complaint, the police arrested and court-forwarded two persons identified as Bimal Dalua and Khirod Dalua. later they were sent to jail custody as their bail pleas were rejected.
Similarly, in another pre-poll violence, some miscreants allegedly torched the temporary BJP office at Jamara under the Nikirai police station on Wednesday night. The police rushed to the spot and are investigating into the incident, informed Nikirai PS IIC Pramod Kumar lenka.