BeMC’s lady corporator assaulted by contractor  

In sharp contrast to the Odisha government’s much-touted slogan “Respect to Women”, a contractor reportedly assaulted a BJP woman corporator of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) in Ganjam district on Tuesday. The incident was reported while a demarcation of territorial limits of ward numbers- 37 and 38 was underway.

The woman corporator, identified as Banita Sahu, has reportedly sustained injuries in the attack. 

The attack on the lady corporator occurred after a patch of land allegedly encroached by the contractor was identified during the demarcation. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from various quarters.
As per reports, there is a boundary dispute between the ward-37 and ward 38. The lady corporator had raised the issue at the council meeting to resolve it. 

BeMC officials including the commissioner were demarcating the limits of the ward-37 and 38. BJP corporator Banita Sahu was present at the site in the forenoon. According to sources, all of a sudden, a ruckus ensued when the contractor was seen chasing the woman corporator and raining fists on her while many others present at the spot were stopping the attacker. The mayor was also present at the spot.

Aggrieved over the issue, corporator Banita Sahu told the media,” Two days ago, I raised the border dispute between ward-37 and 38 and put forth a proposal to resolve it as soon as possible.  As per the decision, the BeMC decided to demarcate the limits on Tuesday. I was there while the mayor and the commissioner were present to monitor the demarcation.”

She added that the contractor had grabbed a patch of land in the disputed area and built a shop which was found to be inside ward-37 during the demarcation.

“Then, the contractor got enraged and attacked me before I could understand anything.  I sustained an injury in my hand. The mayor and the commissioner were present at that time.”
The lady corporator alleged that the contractor backed by BJD attacked a woman and this incident exposed how the government respects women.

Asked about the incident, Mayor Sanghamitra Dalei, said that she was present at the time of the demarcation but did not see what happened. “If such an incident has happened, it is condemnable,” she added.
On the other hand, the lady corporator said that she would file a complaint at the local police station against the attacker.