The BDO of Boden block complained that he was assaulted by Jema Mani Dharua, a Panchayat Samiti (PS) Member on Saturday morning. “Jemamani Dharua came to my office at about 8.30 in the morning and started arguing with me about the selection of the Village level leader (Vll) for supervision of road construction work under CC road scheme in her Panchayat. When I tried to answer, she did not listen and suddenly took her shoe and hit me,” the BDO said.
Sources said the BDO and the PS member had been at loggerhead for the last few months on matters relating to distribution of work to contractors. The BDO, without consulting the PS Members appointed the Vlls. The matter was reported to the PD, DRDA, Nuapada by the latter and the list of the Vlls was revised by the PD. “I was not at all involved in the finalization of the list by the PD, but Dharua made me responsible and attacked me,” said the BDO. Three CC roads at a cost of Rs 9 lakh are going to be constructed in Farsara Gram Panchayat where Dharua is the Samiti Member.
“She wanted the work to be done by her people, but her suggestion was not accepted and that is the cause of her grievance,” said Hiralal Majhi, PS Member of Bhainsadani Panchayat.
“Most of the PS Members are interested in contracts and not in development, that’s why such problems are arising,” added Majhi. “I have not assaulted the BDO. Rather, he was trying to misbehave me,” said Dharua.
“I was the President of Nuapada Zilla Parishad during last election and has been very much cordial with Government officials,” she added.