Odisha Congress chief, BJP candidate attacked on last day of campaign

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik and at least half a dozen party workers were injured after BJD workers attacked their vehicles in Ghasipura

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik and at least half a dozen party workers were injured after BJD workers attacked their vehicles in Ghasipura assembly constituency of Keonjhar district Sunday evening, the Congress alleged.

Poling officials carry the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) from the collection centre ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections and Odisha State Assembly polls, at BJB College, in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Arabinda Mahapatra /HT PHOTO)

The attack came on the last day of campaigning ahead of the third phase of elections to the six Lok Sabha and 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha on April 23.

Patnaik, who is contesting from Ghasipura assembly constituency against BJD minister and local strongman Badri Narayan Patra was taking out an election rally when miscreants allegedly from the BJD attacked him and his supporters. Patnaik and six other Congress workers were injured and at least ten vehicles were damaged. Three of the injured have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Keonjhar district Congress committee vice-president Ratikanta Baral alleged the involvement of Debasish Patra, son of Badri Narayan Patra in the attack. Baral also alleged that the attackers also fired twice in the air to terrorise Congress workers.

Later Patnaik lodged a formal complaint with Ramachandrapur police station. Keonjhar’s Superintendent of Police Jay Narayan Pankaj said the matter is being investigated and stringent action will be taken against the culprits.

In a separate incident, BJP MLA candidate from Bhubaneswar-Central constituency, Jagannath Pradhan had a lucky escape when some miscreants hurled bombs at him near BJP party office in Bhubaneswar. Police officials said two bike-borne miscreants hurled a bomb Pradhan’s car near party office after he had just stepped out of his car.

BJP candidate for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency, Aparajita Sarangi said the attack showed the desperation and insecurities of the BJD. “The criminal image of the BJD candidate from Bhubaneswar-Central is coming out into open. Law and order is all time low. It’s shameful!,” tweeted Sarangi.

The six Lok Sabha constituencies which will go to polls on April 23 are Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Puri.