Soumya Ranjan Patnaik’s supporters arrested in Keonjhar, police station gheraoed

The supporters of Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, who is contesting from the Ghasipura Assembly constituency as an Independent candidate, gheraoed the Ramchandrapur Police Station in Keonjhar on Tuesday protesting the arrest of some other supporters of Patnaik. 

After being expelled from the BJD, Patnaik filed his nomination papers from the Ghasipura Assembly seat as an independent candidate. He is locking horns with BJD’s Badri Narayan Patra, BJP’s Shambhunath Rout and Congress’ Subrat Chakra. 

Two days ago, the supporters of Patnaik and those of the BJD confronted each other at Kantarohi under the Ghasipura Police limits and yesterday, police reportedly arrested eight supporters of Patnaik.

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Terming the arrest as illegal and protesting against police action, Patnaik’s supporters gheraoed the Ramchandrapur Police Station. 
Meanwhile, Patnaik condemned the police action and took the matter up with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). 

“Our workers are being singled out and arrested. By doing such illegality, they are only disrespecting the direction of the High Court. Ghasipura people won’t tolerate this any longer. I am here only to fight this,” Patnaik said. 

No reactions were received from the police or the BJD.

(By Muna Singh)