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Rayagada: A day after Utkal Bharat party chief and former MP Kharabela Swain was brutally assaulted in Rayagada, Police DG RP Sharma today informed that Crime Branch has been directed to probe the matter.
According to sources, the investigating agency will not only conduct a detailed probe as far as the assault is concerned but other aspects will also be taken into consideration.
"We have ordered a Crime Branch investigation to find out who was involved behind the conspiracy and what was the motive," Sharma said.
Meanwhile, Swain met the Additional Superintendent of Police of Rayagada, Patitpabana Chaudhury and apprised details regarding the attack on him during a public meeting in Kashipur yesterday. The former MP also filed an official complaint in the matter today.
"A complaint has been filed with us. We have arrested the attacker Sushant Nayak and interrogating him. Later proper action will be taken against him as per law," Chaudhury said.
On the other hand, Swain has alleged the involvement of BJD workers behind the attack as he was continuously speaking against the State government. He said that he would continue with his ‘Sabha Samitis’ across the State in the upcoming days.
"We had taken permission from police and sought security. Moreover, the youths who attacked me themselves claimed that they belonged to BJD," Swain said at Bhubaneswar railway station today.
#WATCH: The youths who attacked me themselves claimed that they belong to #BJD, says Utkal Bharat party chief Kharabela Swain #KharabelaSwainAttacked #Odisha pic.twitter.com/ZMUuBv4lVu
— OTV (@otvnews) November 25, 2018
In a video posted by Swain on Facebook yesterday, Swain was seen being attacked on his face by a man before vulgarly abusing him. The video revealed how the man assaulted Swain saying, “We know BJD, BJP and Congress. What’s this Utkal Bharat? Who has called you here?”
The attack on Kharabela Swain has sparked widespread public resentment across the State with leaders cutting across party lines also condemning the incident.
On recurring incidence of hooliganism in Odisha on political opponents including him, Jay Panda blamed Odisha govt & tweeted, “#BijuGoondaVahini (yes, govt funded & questioned by CAG!) disrupts public meets ..Anti oppn pol violence in Odisha growing in last 4 yrs, peaking now.”
Condemning the incident, BJP general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra said,"BJP condemns the attack on Kharabela Swain in Rayagada. He was attacked by goons of Biju Yuva Vahini. Though both the attackers-- Sukant Nayak and Krushna Nayak were initially arrested, Krushna was released. Sukant's name was removed from Biju Yuva Vahini's list yesterday."
"This is not a conspiracy but a style of functioning of BJD. It is very unfortunate that their party members are resorting to such acts out of frustration. Everyone has right to do politics but BJD is unable to bear that," OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik said.
