BJP rebukes Bargarh SP, says district police is puppet of ruling party

Bhubaneswar: Alleging that Bargarh SP B Jugal Kishore has become a puppet of the ruling party, the BJP today stated two persons arrested in the case of firing at saffron party activist Manoranjan Meher's house have links with a leader from BJD.

BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma told mediapersons, "The district police uttered the same words that the ruling party spokesperson stated. When the probe is not over yet, how the Bargarh SP knows that the two arrested persons have political links?"

"It seems Md Arshad and Sushant Bhoi, who were arrested in the firing case, have links with BJD," Sharma said.

Refuting the charges, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, "The saffron party is playing a political game which is why they are exaggerating a common issue with the help of media."

"As they (BJP) are finding it difficult to create a base in Bijepur, they are creating an issue out of nothing," Deb added.

Slamming both BJD and BJP, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Prasad Harichandan raised concerns over fair polls in Bijepur on the backdrop of increasing cases of violence in the area.

He urged the Bargarh police and the district administration to create a conducive environment for free and fair bypoll in Bijepur.

"Earlier, Congress had predicted of violence in Bijepur during the Gaisilat meeting which turned out to be true," Harichandan stated.

The Bargarh police, had arrested Md Arshad and Sushant Bhoi on Tuesday from a ‘dhaba’ at Loharachati on Chhattisgarh border. A Bolero vehicle and a country made pistol were seized and the duo is being quizzed in connection with the firing incident.

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