BDO in Odisha assaulted over panchayat building dispute

A disturbing incident was reported on Monday from Odisha’s Nuapada district, where Block Development Officer (BDO) Rohit Bhoi was allegedly assaulted, forcing him to approach the local police station for justice. The alleged attack is linked to an ongoing dispute over the construction of a panchayat building.

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The controversy revolves around the Bhainsatal panchayat building, which was originally meant to be constructed at the panchayat headquarters but is instead being built at Baloda village. Some villagers had been opposing the change in location. However, construction work was continuing as per the directions of the Orissa High Court.

During the formation of new gram panchayats in 2016–17, Bhainsatal was also declared a gram panchayat, and its headquarters were set up at Baloda, said Sarpanch Premalal Nayak. Over this, residents of Bhainsatal village had then expressed dissatisfaction and had been demanding that the office be established in their village.

A group of youths allegedly entered the block office and physically assaulted the Nuapada BDO. Following the incident, police have launched an investigation. While investigating the incident, Nuapada police have detained four persons for questioning.

Meanwhile, block-level employees have begun a pen-down strike, protesting the attack and demanding safety for government officials. Local leaders have staged a sit-in protest in front of the block office, and block employees have abstained from work.

“We had a grievance hearing at Khairani village earlier in the day. I was about to go out when a local leader from Bhainsatal village, along with 20-25 other residents, entered my office. He told me, ‘You have the support for this (panchayat building construction at Baloda village). You have facilitated the court order,” the BDO said, quoting the accused.

“Why are you (the accused man) unnecessarily blaming me in this matter? I have already told the PO (project officer) and formally communicated with him in this regard. Then, the local leader told me, ‘no no, you are involved in this decision (construction of the panchayat building at Baloda)’. All of a sudden, one of them slapped me very hard,” BDO Bhoi expressed.

Reported By: Kunal Charan Behera