Samiti member ostracised, fined Rs 4.5 lakh for 'not supporting BJD candidate in poll' 

A samiti member of Subalaya gram panchayat under Ganjam block is allegedly paying a heavy price for not supporting the candidature of a BJD nominee in the election to the post of block chairman. 

Mami Das, the samiti member, has alleged that she has been ostracised from the village for not casting her vote in favour of a BJD candidate in block chairman election. A fine of Rs 4.5 has also been slapped on her, she added.

Mami was elected samiti member uncontested. In the block chairman election, she was pressurised to support a BJD candidate. She has been ostracised for not obeying them. 

“I have met the SP. If I don’t get justice, I would go to Naveen Niwas. If justice is not delivered to me there, I would commit suicide,” she said. 

When contacted, Chhatrapur sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Goutam Kisan said, “Mami Das, the samiti member, has alleged that she has been ostracised. But the veracity of her allegation is being verified. There has been a direction from the SP that any ostracise case should be taken seriously. Following the direction, a case has been registered at Rambha police station and the IIC of the police station is investigating into the case.”

Meanwhile, Karuna Das, a local resident, termed the samiti member’s allegation as baseless.