With the declaration of elections to the urban local bodies (UlBs), the election office of the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) was in a state of chaos on Thursday as there was no adequate police protection to effectively monitor and control the inflow of thousands of political activists to filter the antisocial elements creating havoc in the premises of the BMC.
Thousands of people were found loitering in the BMC premises including some youths who were in drunken condition, turning the premises virtually into a fish market. Discipline and decency were found absolutely nonexistent. Though the State Election Commission has strictly directed the police to maintain decorum and discipline in all stages of the election process, the scene in the BMC premises appears to be to the contrary. It has caused panic among genuine candidates of political parties who are even afraid of making any complaint for the fear of retaliatory action by antisocials.
However, the law and order situation in Ganjam, Chhatrapur and Rambha NACs in the district is quite satisfactory as per reports. Armed police have been deployed at the nomination centres in these NACs and they do not allow anyone inside the centres except the candidates and their proposers, sources said.
Mention may be made that two days back, a complainant had reached the Nodal Officer of the Collector’s Office from Kabisuryanagar that some supporters of the ruling party are intimidating other party people at the election office there. The district police administration has posted armed police to prevent any untoward situation in the area.
It may be noted that Brahmapur is ill famous of its antisocial groups ruling the roost in the city.
Over the last one week, there have been two incidents of violence including bombing in front of two fast food shops, one near the Biju Patnaik Park and the other near the Bijipur tank with mobile police nowhere to be seen.
On Friday, vehicular traffic remained jammed for hours at places like Gandhinagar Square, Urban Bank Road, Kamapalli Square and Sub-Registrars’ Office road and there were no police personnel to control and disperse the crowds.