Cases filed against 50 others on BJD plaint
The Congress hartal on January 7 led to a clash between the Congress and BJD supporters, resulting in arrest of a Congress worker and registration of cases against many from both the parties. Police got FIR and counter FIR from both the parties.
Sources said the clash took place at Jaynagar area. The BJD workers led by Jeypore Municipality vice chairperson Surya Narayan Rath and District Youth BJD president Dharmendra Adhikari gheraoed the Town Police Station demanding arrest of the Congress workers alleging that they assaulted a BJD councillor and his wife, besides snatching their gold ornaments. On the basis of the complaint, the police arrested Congress worker B Ramesh and registered a case against 50 others.
According to the complaint lodged by BJD councillor Arati Mishra’s husband Manoj Mishra, he was sitting outside his grocery shop at 12.30 pm after shutting it down when a group of Congress workers led by town Congress president Narendra Mohanty assaulted him.
Hearing him screaming, when Arati rushed to the spot, the Congress workers also manhandled her. Monoj sustained severe injuries on his face. They also snatched a gold necklace and Rs 5, 200 from the couple, the complainant mentioned.
Arrested B Ramesh’s wife B Sujata lodged a FIR against Manoj Mishra on the charges of assaulting her and also alleged that Councillor Arati Mishra abused her with casteist remarks as she belongs to the Dalit community. She also complained that the vice chairperson of local civic body Rath, BJD Youth president Adhikari and Mishra assaulted her and her husband and threatened to kill them.
While hundreds of Congress workers demanding action against the accused were marching forward to gherao police, they were told that since the case related to Atrocity Act, the SDPO was competent to investigate the matter.