Following the arrest of Odisha BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan on Thursday evening in connection with the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahu, the Odisha Administrative Service Association (OASA) announced the withdrawal of its ongoing stir launched in support of their colleague.
Confirming the development, Commissionerate Police said Pradhan, who is allegedly the prime suspect behind the attack, was taken into custody from Bhubaneswar’s Jharpada and taken for a medical check-up after his arrest.
With this, the total number of arrests in in connection with the attack on the BMC higher official has risen to six.
In a statement to the media, OAS Association President informed about the withdrawal of the agitation and urged the members of the association to resume their duties.
The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers were on mass leave protesting the assault of Sahoo.
Notably, at around 11:30 am on Monday, when the public grievance meeting was in progress in the presence of other officers, staff and general people at the BMC office, six to seven unknown individuals entered the premises unauthorisedly and dragged Sahoo out of his office and attack him after enquiring whether he had a conversation with BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan over the phone.
As a result of the strike across the state, including Bhubaneswar, the administrative and public service delivery services were severely disrupted. The officers had been demanding the arrest Pradhan, who allegedly sent the group of miscreants to assault the OAS officer.
Earlier on Wednesday, the OASA had announced that the OAS officers will continue to be on mass leave until the government fulfils their demands which included the arrest of Pradhan, prime accused behind the attack on Sahoo.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the OAS association placed three demands which include immediate arrest of the ‘prime accused’ Pradhan, provision of adequate security for all field-level executive officers including Tahsildars, Sub-Collectors, BDOs, and EOs to ensure their safety while discharging official duties and public condemnation of the incident by the Government, acknowledging the gravity of the attack and affirming its commitment to protect government officers.
The association again condemned the ‘dastardly’ attack on Sahoo while on duty. “This heinous act is a stark reminder of the risks and vulnerabilities faced by our members in the line of duty. The incident, which occurred in broad daylight, is not only an assault on an individual officer but a direct attack on the dignity and sanctity of public service in the State,” the association had said in its memorandum.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari had appealed to the OAS and ORS officers to call off their protest and join duty, keeping in view the flood situation in some districts of the state and the ongoing Rath Yatra. He reiterated that whoever is involved in the case will get punishment according to the law.
On Tuesday, the BJP state unit president, Manmohan Samal, suspended five BJP workers, including a corporator, from the primary membership of the party for assaulting the BMC Additional Commissioner, Sahoo.
Acting on the FIR lodged by the victim, OAS officer Sahoo, the police had earlier arrested all five suspended party workers- Corporator Aparup Narayan Raut, Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, Debashis Pradhan, Sachikant Swain and Sanjeev Mishra.
Following a complaint naming Pradhan, Pradhan was summoned to the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday by BJP state president Manmohan Samal.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Pradhan said, as quoted by ToI, “I had come to the party office as asked by party president. I had a discussion with him after which I am heading home.”
Denying his direct involvement in the attack, Pradhan acknowledged the seriousness of the matter in a post on X, stating, “State is heading towards collapse of administrative machinery and law and order situation may prevail. In view of this, I accord due regard to law. I will fully cooperate with whatever action is taken as per law.”
