Three days after controversial trade unionist and Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel was sent to the Alipingal Jail in connection with Seaways stevedoring company GM Mahendra Swain murder case, his wife Monideepa Sarkhel on Tuesday met him at the jail.
The meeting lasted for a few minutes after which Monideepa returned and met local mediapersons. She reiterated her claim that Bapi has been falsely implicated in the murder case at the behest of Excise Minister and Paradip MlA Dr Damodar Rout. She described it as political vendetta against her husband and demanded an impartial probe into the incident.
Moreover, she explained after meeting with PCC president Prasad Harichandan in Bhubaneswar on Monday that the latter has instructed her to carry out party works in Paradip Assembly constituency in the absence of Bapi. As a result, she would campaign in each panchayat and village coming under Kujang and Ersama blocks during the panchayat elections in February next, she informed.
Meanwhile, a motorcycle rally was taken out in Paradip by a section of Congress workers demanding ouster of Bapi from the party for his connection in the murder case.
To counter the move, Bapi’s supporters organised a similar rally at Kujang and Rahama Bazar and set ablaze effigies of Minister Rout, MlA Chiranjib Biswal and MP Ranjib Biswal. Meanwhile, reports said that the Paradip Congress has been divided over the Bapi arrest.
Meanwhile, the judicial remand of Rakesh Chaubey, the hired killer involved in the murder case who was taken in remand since November 19, ended on Tuesday. Chaubey was presented in the Kujang court on Tuesday afternoon and the court sent him to the Samagola Jail.