Employees of the Biridi block office on Saturday launched a pen-down strike, protesting assaults on the Block Development Officer and another staff during the Odisha bandh called by the Congress on Friday.The employees demanded action against the Congress supporters, who ransacked the block office and beat up BDO Ravindra Kumar Sabat and Junior Clerk Arta Bandhu Sahoo on the bandh day. Sahoo is undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.
“We feel unsafe in the office after the incident and need security to discharge our duties,” the employees said, adding, “Few Congress people are pressurising to settle the case amicably but we are firm on our demand of action against the errant people.”later in the day, the employees met Jagatsinghpur district Collector BK Upadhaya at his office and appraised their grievance.Meanwhile, the Biridi police have arrested five persons in connection with the case but refused to divulge their identities on the plea of smooth investigation.