Bhubaneswar: Muddling the controversy regarding assault of the Begunia MLA on the local Tehsildar further, the State Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray today said Prasant Jagdev did not throw the lantern aiming at OAS officer Niharika Nayak and the issue is not a serious one.
Talking to newsmen here, Routray stated, “When the legislator came to know that a house was built in the middle of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, he reached the place and made the reaction. As no big issue has happened between the officer and the MLA, the same can be resolved amicably between them at their level.”
The Revenue Minister added, “If a house is built in the middle of the road in the village, who should be blamed for that when the local administration exists.”
He also gave a kind of clean-chit to Jagadev by saying that the legislator had not thrown the lantern at the Tehsildar with an intention to hurt.
On the other hand, the Begunia Tehsildar said, “In the house lighting the lantern the couple was staying alert and such situation no one can demoslish the house. But the MLA reached there and beaten up the couple with the lantern. I was hurt while he threw the lantern before returning from the house.”
Meanwhile, the Begunia Tehsildar lodged a complaint at the local police station against the legislator. The OAS officers’ association also demanded a high-level inquiry into the allegation that the incident occurred due to lapses of the Tehsildar.
Also read: Assault on Tehsildar: Complaint filed against BJD MLA
Saroj Samal, president, the State OAS Officers’ Association, said, “As the woman officer has filed an FIR at the police station, the ball is in police court.”
In a related development, supporters of the Begunia MLA submitted a memorandum to the Revenue Minister urging him to take action against the Tehsildar.