Tension gripped Salepur following a murderous attack on the BJP MLA candidate’s agent and three others allegedly by BJD workers at booth number 184 and 185 at Malasasan during the final phase of polling in Odisha on Saturday.
Abhisekh Panda, an injured worker said, “Our booth agent Sanjay Rout had gone and when we asked why the booth was being captured, they locked us inside and assaulted us. Though some police personnel were present, they remained mute spectators.
"BJD’s Ramesh Jena engaged scores of people and attacked us. A total of five persons have been injured in the attack," alleged Panda.
Sanjay Rout, the election agent of BJP MLA candidate Arindam Roy said, “After getting information that one Ramesh Jena is indulged in illegal activities and booth capturing, we rushed to the spot and he attacked us with over 100 persons with sharp weapons, wooden planks and other objects.”
Rout said that there should be repolling in the booths as they have been captured by the BJD workers adding that they have snatched a sharp weapon from them. “I am the party’s authorised agent and I have the right to visit,” Rout added.
BJP MLA candidate Arindam Roy said, “I urge Tangi-Salepur people to raise their voice against such goondaraj by the BJD. My agent is authorised to visit booths and when he went to booth numbers 184 and 185, he was attacked for opposing the booth capturing by Ramesh Jena and his supporters.”
Roy said that some BJP workers and agents suffered serious injuries in the head and other body parts and they somehow managed to escape from the spot.
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Meanwhile, no administrative official could be contacted for their version of the matter. Similarly, no comments were received from the BJD over the allegations.