Jagran correspondent, Jajpur. At least 15 people were injured, including five in critical condition, in a clash between supporters of an independent MLA and a BJD leader in Odisha's Jajpur district on Sunday, police said.
According to the police, the clash took place at the farmhouse of former Dharamsala MLA and BJD leader Pranab Kumar Balabantray in Jenapur police station area under Panturi. During this period, many vehicles, including bikes and cars, faced vandalism. The injured were first admitted to Dharamsala Community Health Centre, while five seriously injured people were later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
What allegations did Balabantray make?
Balabantray alleged that around 30 BJD workers, including some women, were present at some function at his farmhouse. Meanwhile, around 50 supporters of Dharamsala independent MLA Himanshu Shekhar Sahu entered the farmhouse with heavy weapons and attacked BJD workers without any provocation. 15 people were injured in this attack, out of which five are seriously injured. Additionally, he said more than 20 vehicles, including four cars, were also victims of vandalism.
As soon as the information was received, the police reached the spot and admitted the injured to the hospital. Balabantray described the attack as politically motivated, saying it was the result of long-standing political rivalry. He said that this is not the first case, and many such incidents have happened in Dharamsala assembly constituency during the last assembly elections and thereafter.
In the 2024 assembly elections, Balabantray had lost to Sahu in Dharamsala assembly constituency. Balabantray said, "We have lodged a complaint about the matter with the local police, but do not trust the Jajpur police. We will take it to the Director General of Police (DGP)."
Meanwhile, several BJD leaders and workers demonstrated in front of the DGP office in Bhubaneswar demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack. On the other hand, a supporter of Sahu alleged that he was attacked by Balabantrai's supporters when he was passing by in his car.
Jenapur police said that separate complaints have been registered from both the parties regarding this incident and investigation has been started. However, no one has been arrested yet. Balabantray was earlier attacked in April and his car was damaged.