Irate people, including BJP workers, in Mahakalpada in Kendrapada district on Friday assaulted Marsaghai Block Development Officer (BDO) Sushanta Kumar Pati and gheraoed his official residence after he was found to have stored as many as 40 EVMs at his place without sending them to the strong room at Kendrapada town as is mandatory under the Election Commission’s guidelines.
Tension continued in the area till last reports came in. District SP Rabi Narayan Behera and Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale rushed to the place with police force and rescued the injured BDO from the wrath of mob.Following information that the BDO, who stays in lIC Colony in Mahakalpada, was about to send nearly 40 EVMs in a vehicle, Congress and BJP workers rushed to his residence and demanded to know why the EVMs had not been sent to Kendrapada previous night and stored at his place.
The party workers reportedly manhandled the BDO and even attacked the vehicle. The police then reached the spot and guarded the vehicle loaded with the EVMs.The district Collector had earlier issued instructions to all polling officials that all the EVMs, whether used or unused, would be sent to the EVM strong room in Kendrapada. In fact, the district administration had told reporters on Thursday night that all EVMs had reached Kendrapada and had been stored in the strong room.
When asked about the incident, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mona Sharma told reporters in Bhubaneswar that an inquiry through the district Collector would be ordered after specific complaints in this matter reach her office.The issue particularly assumes significance because the Mahakalpada Assembly constituency has been in focus after veteran leader Bijay Mohapatra, a major rival of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, chose to contest from the seat on a BJP ticket. There have been allegations that the ruling party used the local administration and police to ensure Mohapatra's defeat.
Getting report about the incident at the BDO’s quarter, Bijay Mohapatra along with BJP Patkura MlA candidate Manas Ranjan Mohanty and the party’s Kendrapada lok Sabha candidate Bishnu Das also rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.