Assault on BMC official: Minister urges agitating OAS, ORS officers to resume duty

Amid the ongoing strike by Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) and Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officers protesting the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has appealed to the agitating officers to return to duty in view of the prevailing flood situation and the Rath Yatra.

Speaking to the media, the Minister said, “The government stands with the officers in their pain and emotions. But this is also a time of urgent public need, with parts of the state facing floods and the grand Rath Yatra. I humbly appeal to all striking officers to temporarily suspend their agitation and resume work for the time being.”

Pujari informed that five people have already been arrested in connection with the assault on the BMC official. 

"Some have even been suspended from their political party. The law will take its own course. Identifying the real masterminds behind the incident will take time, but no one will be spared," he assured.

Acknowledging the concerns raised by the OAS officers, the Minister reiterated that justice will be delivered. However, he urged them to consider the current challenges before the state and defer their protest to a later, more appropriate time.

The protest, which has disrupted administrative work in multiple districts, has raised concerns over governance, especially in flood-affected areas where relief efforts are urgently required.