BJD leaders arrested for 'assaulting' youth in kangaroo court over social media post

Two political leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have been arrested for thrashing a youth in kangaroo court over a social media post in the Bishipada locality of Sonepur district. 

Ashok Nanda, husband of the Binika block chairperson, and Narayan Luha, vice-chairman of the Birmaharajpur Block, have been taken into police custody. They were sent to jail after the court refused bail.

Background of the Incident

According to sources, the controversy stemmed from a social media post. A youth named Nitish Kumar had posted something on social media. The post allegedly targeted Ashok Nanda, husband of the Binika Block Chairperson and a known associate of Subarnapur MLA and former Minister Niranjan Pujari.

Following this, Nitish was reportedly summoned under false pretenses to the residence of Sonali Bishi, an independent MLA candidate in Bisipada, where he was beaten up.

Once there, a group of 10 to 15 men, said to be close to Nanda and affiliated with the BJD, convened an informal 'kangaroo court' and brutally assaulted Nitish. Video footage of the incident shows the youth being thrashed without provocation, triggering public outrage.

The video also featured a group of BJD men forcing the youth to narrate an apology, which was subsequently recorded and allegedly shared on social media, going viral.

Local Tensions and Police Involvement

Later, Nitish Kumar lodged a formal complaint with the Birmaharajpur police station. Earlier, nine people involved in the attack were also arrested based on Nitish’s complaint. 

The arrests sparked significant tension at the Birmaharajpur police station, with supporters of the arrested leaders trying to create unrest at the police station.