BJP stages dharna protesting Jayanarayan Mishra's arrest

Sambalpur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday staged dharna in front of the Northern Range IG office protesting arrest of former minister and senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra for his alleged involvement in pre-poll violence at Banabira under Sohela police limits of Bargarh district.

The violence had claimed one life while brother of Labour Minister Sushant Singh sustained grievous injuries.

The saffron party claimed that the arrest of Mishra was politically motivated and alleged that the police is working as per the instructions of the ruling party.

"Mishra had informed the IG about the attack on that very night of Banabira violence but police did not take any action. Now, they have arrested him. It's a clear case of political conspiracy," party leader and Kuchinda MLA Rabi Narayan Nayak said.

“We demand the case to be handed over to the CBI as we suspect foul play by the police,” Nayak said.

Police had earlier arrested seven persons in connection with the Banabira violence. The number of arrest rose to eight with the arrest of Mishra.