TV
An incident of an alleged attack on the vehicle of former BJD MLA from Dharmasala Pranab Balabantaray on Sunday triggered tension in Aruha village of Jajpur district. The former legislator was reportedly on his way to attend a religious ceremony when the assault took place.
Initial Reports…
According to preliminary information, the incident occurred near the site of the Hingula Yajna, where Pranab Balabantaray was heading to take part in the rituals.
Sources claim that unknown miscreants targeted his vehicle en route, creating a chaotic situation. The exact identity of the attackers or the motive behind the alleged assault remains unclear at this point.
The sudden incident caused a brief spell of unrest and panic in the area, with locals gathering at the spot amidst rising tensions. However, the situation was quickly brought under control after the intervention of Jenapur police, who rushed to the scene and dispersed the crowd.
Sources said that so far no opposition member was invited for the religious event by the organising committee.
Allegations & Counter Allegations
“Some goons of Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo, armed with weapons, attacked my vehicle. They even tried to kill me. As I don’t have trust on Jajpur police, I will not lodge a complaint,” said Balabantaray.
Responding to Balabantaray’s allegations, Sahoo said, “We are not involved in the matter. It is a dispute between two groups of BJD. The law will take its own course.”
BJD President Condemns Attack
BJD President Naveen Patnaik condemned the attack on Pranab Balabantaray, calling it a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that if public representatives are unsafe, it raises serious concerns about the safety of common citizens. BJP MP Rabindra Narayan Behera, meanwhile, said the BJP does not believe in violence and assured that action will be taken if anyone is found guilty.
Police To Begin Probe
The police are expected to launch an investigation into the matter to ascertain the facts and ensure the safety of public figures attending community events. The incident has raised serious concerns over the security of political leaders in public gatherings, especially during culturally significant events like the Hingula Yajna.
More details are awaited as the investigation progresses.
