Vowing to take the murder of BJP supporter Salman Rout allegedly by the ruling BJD at Tarabha to a logical conclusion, the BJP on Monday observed a 12-hour shutdown in Dhenkanal demanding arrest of local MlA and Minister Prafulla Mallick, alleging that he was the main conspirator behind the killing.
Vehicular movement came to a standstill in Dhenkanal town and business establishments downed their shutters in response to the BJP’s bandh call. All private and Government schools were also remained closed.
Police arrested some BJP leaders, including former MP Rudra Narayan Pany and Krushna Chandra Patra, while they were protesting on the streets.
Additional forces were deployed in several parts of the town to maintain law and order. The district administration, sensing trouble, has also deployed five platoons of force at Tarabha village where prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were in force.
“The police are investigating the incident and one person has been arrested. Required number of force has been deployed. The situation is gradually improving,” said Dhenkanal SP Basant Kumar Panigrahi.
Panigrahi said the prohibitory orders would be in force for next two days at Tarabha and after reviewing the situation further step would be taken. Besides, five platoons of police force have been deployed in the village.
A peace committee meeting was also held in Tarabha village in the presence of Dhenkanal Collector Roopa Roasan Sahu to restore normalcy in the village.
Notably, Salman Rout (26) was shot at by OSAP jawan Byomkesh Biswal on Saturday night over tearing of BJP posters for the panchayat polls.
On the other hand, a BJP delegation led by party spokesperson Sajjan Sharma met State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rabi Narayan Senapati and demanded immediate arrest of Mallick and deployment of paramilitary force in Dhenkanal for a free and fair elections.