Screengrab from the BJD Kangaroo Court video
A young man was allegedly beaten by supporters of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) after being lured into what appeared to be a kangaroo court in the Subarnapur district. The incident, caught on video, has now gone viral and led to a police case.
According to sources, the victim, Nitish Kumar Saanḍh from Kuhibahal village, was accused of making a provocative post 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, on Tuesday evening.
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, obtained by OTV, shows the youth being thrashed without provocation, triggering public outrage.
The video also featured the group of BJD men forcing the youth to narrate an apology, which was subsequently recorded and allegedly shared on social media, going viral.
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Following the assault, Nitish filed a written complaint at Birmaharajpur police station. The FIR names Ashok Nanda, Binika Block Vice-Chairperson Narayan Luha, and local BJD leader Pinku Kalsai. Police have confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, no official response has yet come from BJD leadership.