At last, Bamebari Police of Keonjhar district have arrested one Sanjaya Barik, a controversial social activist, along with eight others on the charges of disrespecting the national flag and misbehaving with police. They were forwarded to court and the latter remanded them to judicial custody on August 15.
Sources revealed on August 15, on the of occasion of celebration of the 74th Independence day, Luxmidhar Prusty ,a trade union leader of Jajang area under Joda block, was holding the national flag in his office. At that time, Sanjaya the main trusty of 'Baba Dhabaleswar Loading Agency', a body formed about a year back, reached there along with the supporters and asked Prusty not to organise such activities in his area.
At this, argument started, which ultimately led to a duel between them. However , when local police intervened, Sanjay's supporters misbehaved with the police and even mishandled them after which police arrested nine people including Sanjay.
Prior to this, many serious cases, including under Section 25 of the Arms Act, have been slapped against Sanjay and his supporters, which are pending in the Bamebari police station. He also faces charges on encroachment of Adivasi, forest and Government land for agricultural farming in the name of providing employment to local people, non - payment of dues to the members of Baba Dhabaleswar loading Agency etc.