Odisha Works Dept engineer ‘assaulted’ at gunpoint over pending bill; police inaction alleged

A Works Department engineer in Kalahandi district has alleged that he was assaulted and threatened with murder at gunpoint. He alleged that two contractor brothers and their associates threatened to kill him over a pending bill dispute.

The incident reportedly took place a few days ago at Madanpur Rampur, Assistant Executive Engineer Ananta Pradhan’s residence where he was working along with other junior engineers. 

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According to his complaint, contractors Akash Agrawal and his brother Nilesh Agrawal arrived at the house with around 10 associates. The group allegedly abused and assaulted the engineer before brandishing firearms and issuing death threats.

Contractors’ Background And Bill Dispute

The Agrawal brothers are categorised as special class contractors and are reported to have executed projects worth Rs 100 crore across Bolangir and Kalahandi districts. However, their bills have remained pending due to complaints and accusations of poor-quality work. The confrontation on the engineer’s premises is alleged to have stemmed from these disputes.

FIR Filed, Concerns Over Police Inaction

Following the incident, Pradhan lodged a written complaint at Madanpur Rampur police station. A case was registered under BNS sections 296, 351, 224, 189 and others. The FIR was filed three days ago, but allegations have emerged that no action has been taken since. 

Reports further claim that the police have been treating the case as routine, prompting questions about external influence and possible pressure.

Conflicting Versions And Unanswered Questions

While the engineer’s complaint names Akash and Nilesh Agrawal as the masterminds of the attack, the contractors have denied the allegations, stating that no such incident occurred. 

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No official statement has been obtained from the Assistant Executive Engineer, Pradhan, so far. The police is also yet to comment over the allegations.