Tension continued to prevail in Nilgiri in the district on Friday after senior BJP leader and former local MlA Pratap Sarangi and his driver were allegedly manhandled by BJD supporters and their vehicle was damaged by brick batting on Thursday.
The incident occurred at around 11.30 pm when Saranagi was returning from Berhampur (Nilgiri) after an election campaign. The BJD supporters pelted stones on the vehicle in which Saranagi was travelling.
Besides, another car, belonging to BJP Zilla Parishad candidate for Zone 11, which was following Sarangi’s car was vandalised by the mob. The FIR was lodged by the driver of Sarangi’s car, said the police.
After the incident, the BJP leader and his supporters staged a demonstration in front of the Berhampur police station and sat on a dharna demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. The dharna by the agitators continued till 2 pm on Friday. However, it was called off after the police assured to take appropriate action.
Nilgiri SDPO SR Mahapatra said although they were around 10-15 people yet FIR was lodged against 45 persons. “The agitation was called off after they assured action against the culprits after the elections. Three platoons of police force have been deployed in the area. A case has been registered under Sections 341,323,307,294,506,506 and 35 of IPC,” said Mahapatra .
Following the incident, a group led by sitting BJD MlA Sukanta Nayak reached the police station to lodge a counter FIR. The SDPO further said that a counter FIR was lodged by a BJD supporter and former sarpanch against Sarangi and others alleging passing of casteist remarks against BJD MlA Nayak.
Though the complaint has been lodged against Sarangi and others, yet it hasn’t been registered and is under investigation, said the SDPO.