Panchayat Poll Violence: Gaisilet IIC In Bargarh Accused Of Thrashing Voter For ‘No Fault’

In another incident related to poll violence in the State, the inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Gaisilet Police Station in Bargarh district, Birabara Bhagat allegedly thrashed a voter without any reason during the second phase of the Panchayat elections on February 18.

Though the incident had occurred inside a polling booth at Phiringimal village under Gaisilet block of Bargarh district on Friday, a video of the incident has been doing rounds on several social media platforms since yesterday.

In the viral video, Bhagat was purportedly seen thrashing the youth, who had reportedly gone to the polling station at Phiringimal Primary School to cast his vote, mercilessly with a wooden stick.

The youth, who had sustained grievous injuries in the assault, has been admitted to Padampur Hospital for treatment.

Though it is being alleged that the IIC thrashed the youth without any particular reason, the IIC was not available for reaction on the matter.
On the same day, Bhagat was accused of beating some women voters at Kathaumal village under Gaisilet block of the district. Later, Bhagat left the spot after some locals protested against him.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Pradeep Purohit met the injured youth at the hospital and demanded the arrest of Bhagat immediately. 

“The youth, who was beaten up by the policeman at the polling booth in Phiringimal without any particular reason, has been admitted to the hospital and his health condition is stated to be critical. I had visited the youth at the Padampur hospital. His left hand has fractured and he has been referred to Bargarh by the doctors,” stated Purohit.

“The policeman who has beaten the voter while he has gone to the booth for voting should be arrested and the cop should be booked under a criminal case. If action is not taken against Bhagat at the earliest, we will resort to mass agitation,” threatened Purohit.