EC Magistrate, SST team ‘thrashed’ by BJD candidate Pradeep Maharathy

Puri: A day before the third phase polls across Odisha, Magistrate of an election flying squad and Static Surveillance Team (SST) team members were allegedly attacked by BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy and his supporters. The incident took place when the officials had gone to raid Maharathy’s farmhouse at Hunkeipur under Pipili area in Puri district on Sunday night.

As many as 15 members of a joint group of flying squad and SST team had gone to the farmhouse after getting information about the distribution of money and liquor.

After reaching the farmhouse, they were allegedly attacked by Maharathy and his supporters.The miscreants reportedly attacked cameraman of the team and damaged his camera.

“After getting information about the distribution of money and liquor at Pradeep Maharathy’s farmhouse, I along with the SST team had gone for investigation. As soon as we reached there, Pradeep Maharathy barged into the farmhouse and started hurling abuses and later attacked me and my team,” alleged Rabinarayan Patra, Magistrate of Flying Squad.

“ASI Binay Kumar Das and driver Deepak who accompanied the team were injured in the attack. I have received injuries on waist and unable to walk. In a bid to save our lives, 15 of us who had gone for the investigation fled the spot in one vehicle. The other vehicle is still in the farmhouse,” said the Magistrate.

Meanwhile, Patra has been shifted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar for treatment.

Puri SP Umashankar Dash who reached the spot after getting information said, “There were some election related checking going on when some miscreants attacked the magistrate and police party. Further investigation is on.”

#Puri Collector Jyotiprakash Das briefs media over attack on EC Magistrate & Static Surveillance Team (SST) in Pipili area of Puri district #OdishaElections2019 #OdishaPollsWithOTV pic.twitter.com/6fvic7VsVf

— OTV (@otvnews) April 22, 2019