Odisha Police in Jajpur district have arrested four people in connection with the December 14 attack on the farmhouse of BJD leader Pranab Balabantaray, an officer said on Monday.
The clash, which reportedly involved supporters of BJP-backed Independent MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo, resulted in at least injuries to 15 people, five of them serious. The incident occurred at Balabantaray’s farmhouse, where his supporters were holding a meeting. Police reported that several vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, were vandalized during the violence, police said.
Both political factions have lodged FIRs and counter-FIRs at the Jenapur police station regarding the incident.
BJD leaders continued their protest (dharna) near the DGP’s camp office, demanding strict action against MLA Sahoo’s supporters. Balabantaray stated he had “no trust on the police in Jajpur district” and claimed this was the fifth such attack by Sahoo’s group in 18 months, referencing a similar vandalism incident in April.
Protesting the attack and demanding action against MLA Sahoo’s supporters, BJD leaders, however, continued their dharna near the DGP’s camp office in Bhubaneswar, which began on Sunday evening.
Jajpur SDPO Laxmidhar Swain said that the police arrested four people for their alleged involvement in the attack. Both Sahoo and Balabantray’s supporters have lodged FIRs and counter FIRs at Jenapur police station.
Meanwhile, Sahoo’s supporters, who were sitting on a dharna near Jenapur police station, demanding action against Balabantaray’s supporters, withdrew their agitation, police said.
Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithviraj Harichandan, alleged that the BJD was politicising the matter. “Our government has ensured action against persons who break laws till now. The chief minister has given clear-cut instructions to the Police department in this regard,” Harichandan said.
The police are free to take action independently against the accused persons, the minister said, adding, “Some people are doing politics over the incident to show up their existence.”
Balabantaray claimed that this was the fifth such attack on him and his supporters by the people of Dharmasala MLA Sahoo in a span of 18 months.
“I have no trust on the police in Jajpur district. Therefore, BJD leaders are sitting on a dharna in front of DGP camp office here. We demand action against Sahoo’s supporters who repeatedly target me and my people,” Balabantray told reporters.
MLA Sahoo, whose supporters withdrew their counter-protest near Jenapur police station, maintained that his supporters were the ones who were attacked by BJD workers.
Sahoo alleged that the BJD is “intolerant after its defeat in the 2024 elections” and is attempting to create a law and order situation through “wild allegations.”
“BJD has become intolerant after its defeat in the 2024 elections and therefore creating law and order situation. They are making wild allegations through social media posts. The law will take its course in Sunday’s incident,” he said.
BJD president and Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, condemned the attack on party workers via a post on X, questioning the government’s inaction.
“Even though this incident occurred in broad daylight, the police administration and the government have not taken any action against anyone and remained mute spectators, which is surprising everyone,” Patnaik said.
Patnaik further wrote, asking, “What is the BJP government trying to show by encouraging ‘goondaraj’ and hooliganism in the state?”
“Peace-loving Odia residents will never accept this. Strict action should be taken immediately against the culprits,” he added.
Earlier, Balabantaray was attacked, and his car was vandalised, allegedly by some supporters of the Independent MLA in Jajpur district in April. But Balabantaray escaped unharmed.
