Bargarh: Demanding a judicial inquiry into the attack on two BJP leaders outside the Sohela court yesterday, activists of the saffron party today sat on dharna outside the Bargarh SP office on Sunday.
The BJP activists led by party State vice-president Ashwini Sarangi held the protest meeting. They alleged that the attack was carried out at the behest of BJD and Labour Minister Sushant Singh.
"The miscreants hired and sent by a BJD leader had intended to kill the two BJP leaders. Therefore, we demand a judicial inquiry into the incident," stated Sarangi.
Refuting the charges Minister Sushant Singh said, "BJP wants to come to power in 2019 elections by resorting to hooliganism," adding that he has already asked police to probe the matter.
On the other hand, State BJP Spokesperson Sajjan Sharma in his reaction said, "People of Odisha will never accept the fact that BJD is trying to suppress BJP by carrying out violence and rowdiness."
He alleged BJD activists had attacked the BJP's campaign vehicle in Hindol as well in recent past.
Meanwhile, Bargarh Additional SP Jashobant Senapati stated four persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on two BJP leaders. "The arrested persons have no political links and the attack on the two leaders was made near a tea stall outside the Sohela court following an altercation," he added.
BJP State general secretary Ranjan Patel and Yuva Morcha secretary Irashish Acharya were grievously injured in an attack by miscreants outside the Sohela court premises in Bargarh yesterday.
Both Patel and Acharya were having tea at a stall in front of the Sohela court when some unidentified miscreants attacked them with sticks and iron rods.
The duo was then rushed to the Bargarh district headquarters hospital in critical condition.