A tense situation has prevailed in Keonjhar with members of Sana Sena (supporters of Champua Independent MlA Sanatan Mahakud) staging a dharna in the last two days in as many as four police stations in Keonjhar district protesting the arrest of 17 of their cadres.
On Monday, police had arrested the 17 persons on the charge of extortion, but the protestors alleged that the police were acting at the behest of Minister Badri Narayan Patra, an arch rival of Mahakhud, and the charge was false.
When Nila Mohanty, one of the key aides of Mahakhud was contacted, he told that the arrest is a political vendetta as some leaders are apprehensive of growing influence of MlA Mahakud. He, however, told that the dharana will continue till cases were withdrawn against the arrested people.
Sources revealed that there is a growing dissatisfaction among some sections of people over distribution of blankets and bhatta by Jagat Janani Seva Trust patronised MlA Mahakud for which the BJD supporters had snatched away the blanket at the time of distribution in Ghasipura constituency of Keonjhar district which led to a quarrel between the Sana Sena and the BJD workers. When the matter was informed to Keonjhar SP Rajesh Pandit , he swung into action and ordered strict action against the mischief mongers.
According to sources, the arrested were identified as Bhakta Mahanta, Jethu Mahanta, Ranjan Mahanta, Bharat Palei, Rajendra Barik , Tapan Patra, Chatturbhuj Palei (Bamebari PS), Ashok Mahakud, Ashok Barik, Prahallad Mahakud (Barbil PS), Routray Mahakud, Birabar Mahakud, Surendra Mahakud, Pandav Barik, Krishna Patra.
Sources close to SDPO, Sadar, Shrihari Mishra revealed that the arrests were made on the charges of extortion of money. But if an inside story is to be believed, then the arrest of the 17 people by police and show of strength by Sana Sena is nothing but a tussle of power between School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra and MlA Mahakud. Mahakhud is said to have built a base of his own supporters throughout the district by providing bhatta to the people for which in the last election when the BJD won all the six Assembly seats out of seven, the lone Champua seat was won by Mahakhud as an Independent candidate.
Recently, Mahakhud was in the news for floating a political party which is said to be a direct challenge to the authority of Patra. To win the support of people, Mahakhud is also alleged to be organizing dharnas, strikes, etc at different places by utilizing his money power received from his monopoly mining business. Recently, he is said to have extended his support to the agitators who are sitting in dharna against the setting up of an illegal toll plaza on NH-215 alleged to be owned by supporters of Patra.