Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 30 : The Congress party, on Monday, strongly condemned the alleged attack on Ratnakar Sahu, the Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, calling it the "jungle raj" of the BJP, where criminals are openly indulging in "thuggery".
The Congress party claimed that BJP leader Aparupa Raut and his supporters allegedly beat up Sahu and even tried to kidnap him.
In a post on X, the Congress party shared a video and wrote, "In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, BJP leader Aparupa Raut, along with his goons, is beating up the Additional Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation. An attempt was also made to kidnap Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahu. Somehow, the Commissioner managed to save his life. This is the jungle raj of the BJP, where criminals are openly indulging in thuggery."
https://x.com/INCIndia/status/1939681269929103437
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed his deep shock at "brutal kicking and assault" of Additional Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and called upon Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take immediate and exemplary action against the guilty including "political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this shameful attack".
BJD workers protested against the "assault" of Ratnakar Sahoo.
DCP Headquarters, Prakash Chandra Pal, said that action will be taken against those who are involved in this incident.
"All those involved will be arrested... Two teams have been formed and are investigating," he told ANI.
Patnaik said on X that the official was "dragged from his office and brutally kicked" and attached a video.
"I am utterly shocked seeing this video. Today, Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, OAS Additional Commissioner, BMC, a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary was dragged from his office and brutally kicked and assaulted in front of a BJP Corporator, allegedly linked to a defeated BJP MLA Candidate," Patnaik said.
The BJD leader said what is more appalling is that this happened in broad daylight, in the heart of the capital city to a senior officer while he was in his office, hearing grievances of people.
Hitting out at the BJP government in the state, he said, "If a senior officer is not safe in his own office, then what law and order will ordinary citizens expect from the Government?".
"I ask @MohanMOdisha Ji to take immediate and exemplary action against not only those who purported but more importantly the political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this shameful attack. The people named by the officer in his FIR have behaved like criminals," he said.
Patnaik said the government should ensure immediate action.
"I only hope that Shri Majhi directs immediate action to be taken to restore faith in his government and not allow this heinous act to go unpunished like the assault on an officer by the ex-Governor's son. The people of Odisha will not forgive this," he said.