The newly-elected chairperson of Dhenkanal municipality on Thursday lodged a police complaint alleging that shots were fired in front of her house and death threats were issued to her.
Jayanti Patra of BJP, who took oath as the chairperson of Dhenkanal municipality yesterday, alleged that workers of the ruling BJD resorted to blank firing and issued death threats to her last night.
“Five people came and hurled abuses at my family near the gate of my house last night. When I opened the balcony door, they fired shots five times. Out of fear, I rushed to the room thereafter. They even threatened to kill me and hurl bombs at my house before leaving the spot,” Patra told OTV after lodging a complaint with the district superintendent of police (SP).
“I have lodged an FIR with SP who has assured stringent action against those involved. We have given the SP an ultimatum of 24 hours to bring the culprits to book. In case of inaction by police, we will be forced to take law into our hands and punish those involved. They are spreading goondaraj. We can no longer live under constant fear,” she added.
She also alleged that the BJP councillor of Ward No-19 had also been attacked.
BJP leader and husband of Jayanti Patra, Ram Chandra Patra, said, “I don’t have any hope for justice. Whenever we approach the police with complaints of assault, the latter always summon the other party and force us to compromise.”
Asked about the reason behind the attack, Patra said the BJD was unable to accept the electoral defeat. He broke down while appealing to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for protection.
SP Loganayagi Divya said, “A complaint was lodged and on the basis which we are registering a case. A probe will be initiated and based on the fact of the investigation, we will take action.”