In a bizarre incident, BJP MlA from Potka Maneka Sardar and her partymen as well as a section of police officials were attacked by honey-bees at Ashti village in Dumaria block of Naxal infested Ghatshila sub-division. Sardar was there for a foundation-laying ceremony on Sunday morning.
Sources informed that in the attack, five persons, including BJP legislator Maneka, officer-in charge, Dumaria police station Binod Kumar Paswan were injured. A BJP activist Arun Shau was seriously injured and was rushed by police to a hospital in Baripada in bordering Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
Panic gripped the area as Arun was stung by an army of honey-bees from his toe to the head, causing his entire body itch and swell. Similarly, the Dumaria officer-in-charge was also stung by over 500 honey-bees.
However, the saree-clad legislator was lucky enough to escape with just about three bites as she had managed to cover her body with her saree. When contacted, officer-in-charge, Dumaria said the legislator visited the Ashti village along with her partymen for foundation-stone-laying ceremony of a school building. As part of the rituals, Maneka had burnt a bunch of incense-sticks after breaking coconut beneath a tree at the site of school boundary wall project, suddenly the honey-bees got active and attacked the visiting dignitaries.
“Panic gripped us as the bees started attacking us, I lay on the ground by covering my face with both the hands. I came to rescue of the MlA and forced the legislator to lie on the ground too. She wrapped up her saree over her face and started crying in fear. Four persons, including two policemen came for rescue but still they were attacked by the bees,” narrated Paswan.
The officer-in-charge further informed that as the legislator screamed for help, some villagers brought a huge basket, made of bamboo and covered her by putting it over her. Maneka remained inside the basket for another one hour until the honey-bees had not returned to their hive.
The legislator when asked, confirmed about the honey-bee attack.”Yes we were attacked by the bees however I was lucky that I did not get stung much as I had covered my body and face with a saree, otherwise I would have been landed at any hospital,” said Maneka. She pointed out that she was beaten at about three places, in the hands only.
Except Arun Shau, rest of the victims, including Maneka Sardar rushed to a government-run primary health centre at Dumaria where they were treated for the honey-bees stinging.
Shau, who had lost his conscious due to the bee attack has been sent to the Baripada hospital in serious condition.