SAMBALPUR:
BJP leaders Ranjan Patel and Irasis Acharya were attacked by some men at Sohela in
Bargarh district on Saturday.
Irasis, state secretary of
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has sustained injuries on his head and admitted in Bargarh district headquarters hospital, around 25 km away from the attack spot. Ranjan, state BJP general secretary, escaped with minor injuries.
The BJP leaders were attacked near Sohela sub jail where they had gone to meet senior BJP leader and former minister Jaya Narayan Mishra who is lodged there in connection with the murder of a BJD worker on the eve of Bijepur bypoll in February.
The attack place is around 15 km from Banabira where the BJD worker was killed in an attack on labour minister Susanta Singh’s brother Subrat and his associates on February 22, two days before the by-election in Bijepur.
Source said they were standing near a tea stall after meeting Mishra. However, the men around 30 of them, came to the place in bikes and suddenly attacked Irasis with stick and iron rod.
Irasis said that the miscreants attacked him at the behest of labour minister
Susanta Singh and his brother Subrat Singh.
“They said us that Susanta Singh had sent them and attacked me with iron rod and sticks. They also damaged our vehicle,” added Irasis.
Bargarh Superintendent of Police (SP), Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo said, Irasis is undergoing treatment in the hospital now and he is out of danger. The reason behind the incident could be ascertained after investigation, he said.
BJP raised the issue in the state assembly pointing an accusing finger at the BJD. BJP MLA Rabi Nayak stormed into the well of the house drawing the speaker’s attention on the issue. “The labour minister has orchestrated the attack. The government must take action against him,” Nayak told reporters outside the assembly.
The labour minister distances himself from the incident. “The allegation against me is baseless. Let police probe the attack and take action against whoever is guilty,” the minister said.
