TV
Odisha Administrative Service Association (OASA) demanded the immediate arrest of senior BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan on Wednesday, naming him the prime accused in the assault on BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.
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A proposal has also been passed to submit a formal memorandum to the Chief Minister.
According to official sources, in a strongly worded response to the recent assault on the senior bureaucrat, the OAS association demanded the arrest of BJP’s Jagannath Pradhan, claimed by the outfit as the main accused in the attack on the Additional Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), who is a senior OAS officer.
During a meeting held by the association, all members present unanimously passed a resolution demanding Pradhan’s immediate arrest. They also resolved to meet the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and submit a formal memorandum, highlighting the growing threat to government officials working in the field as well as in offices, and seeking adequate security provisions for them.
“Such a brazen act has destroyed the morale of officers working across the State, who discharge their duties under challenging circumstances and with limited protection. We believe that unless strong and swift action is taken, such incidents may set a dangerous precedent and further endanger the lives and integrity of officers in service,” the outfit resolution mentioned.
“In view of the above, the OAS Association seeks to place the following urgent and non-negotiable demands before the State government: Immediate arrest of the prime accused and kingpin – Jagannath Pradhan – who is reported to be behind the attack,” the OAS officers’ body stated.
The association clarified that the attack was not merely on an individual but symbolised an attack on the public service delivery system itself. They urged the State government to treat this as a serious threat to administrative governance.
Reacting to this, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari emphasised the need for lawful measures. “No action should be taken without a proper probe. That would not be legally appropriate,” the Minister said. He also urged protesting officers to return to work, stating, “Protests should not endanger public welfare.”
The OAS outfit, while condemning the attack, reiterated its commitment to administrative responsibility but maintained that field officers must be protected from such threats.
