At a time when Excise Minster and senior BJD leader Damodar Rout and Paradip Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel are indulging in a war of words over a firing incident here, police arrested Sarkhel’s right-hand man Rakesh Pattanaik alias Raka on Tuesday.
The Abhayachandpur police also arrested three supporters of Raka, Rajendra Behera, Chandan Behera and Tapan Swain. All arrested were later sent to the Kujang Jail.
Police sources said Raka and his three supporters were demanding cash from an official of the ITDC Construction Company of the Paradip Refinery Project. When company official refused to give cash, they attacked them. Following an FIR lodged by the company, the police arrested the four persons.
Notably, two youth leaders of the ruling BJD were attacked by unidentified culprits late on Sunday night.