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The Odisha unit of BJP on Wednesday drew the attention of the Director General of Police (DGP) on the alleged violent activities in the run up to the three-tier Panchayat elections in the State and urged him to ensure free and fair polls.
Alleging that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) resorts to violence and creates tension to influence voters whenever elections come, a delegation of the party submitted a memorandum to DGP Sunil Kumar Bansal.
In the memorandum, the party highlighted the violent activities starting from kidnapping of a Zilla Parishad candidate of the party in Malkangiri to the alleged killing of a party worker in Bhadrak and alleged that the culprits involved have not been arrested yet.
“Our Yuva Morcha Karyakarta Subasish Giri was brutally hacked to death by BJD goons on February 1 in Bhadrak. An FIR was immediately registered by us against the perpetrators. However, the culprits are yet to be arrested,” the memorandum undersigned by BJD general secretary Lakhashri Samantsinghar stated.
It also highlighted another incident of murder threat issued to Malkangiri zone No-2 ZP candidate Pradip Kumar Madkami to withdraw his candidature, allegedly by the BJD workers.
“It is evident that the BJD gundas are threatening our candidates in broad daylight regularly,” the memorandum added.
The party also alleged that a Home Guard, Sudhir Swain was involved in bribing, kidnapping and threatening BJP ZP candidate of Kalimela, Malkangiri Rina Kabasi to withdraw her candidature. It added that no action has been taken against Sudhir Swain till date .
“As the head of the police department, it is your Constitutional duty to enforce law and order and we request you to take stringent action against the perpetrators to ensure free and fair Panchayat elections,” the memorandum added.
Later, speaking to mediapersons, Lakhashri said, “We apprised the DGP of the political violence in the State and requested him to take action against the culprits immediately,”
Reacting to the allegations, BJD MLA Prasanta Muduli said, “Making issue out of nothing has become a common practice for the BJP. There is nothing new as the BJP brings such allegations frequently during elections. However, the people are well aware of such tactics.”
