Woman BDO ‘attacked’ inside office chamber in Odisha

An allegation of a group attack on a woman Block Development Officer (BDO) surfaced from Rajnagar block in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, raising concerns over the safety of government officials while on duty. The incident is reported to have taken place on Friday around noon inside the BDO’s office chamber.

According to information, a local leader accompanied by more than 30 supporters allegedly entered the chamber of Rajnagar BDO Tilottama Prusty at around 12 noon. The group reportedly surrounded the officer and demanded that illegal bills be cleared and work be sanctioned.

Sources said the BDO informed the group that bills could only be processed in line with government rules and strictly in proportion to the work actually completed. Following this, the group allegedly became agitated and engaged in a heated argument with the officer.

Alleged Threats And Attempted Assault

It was further alleged that the group issued threats, warning that the situation would turn serious if their demands were not met. Sources claimed that one individual even attempted to attack the BDO by lifting a laptop. The entire sequence of events was reportedly captured on CCTV cameras installed within the office premises.

Matter Reported To District Administration

It is learnt that the BDO subsequently informed the Kendrapara district collector about the incident. No details were shared at the time of reporting regarding any immediate administrative or police action in connection with the allegations.

Widespread Concern

The alleged attack on a woman BDO triggered concern across various quarters, particularly regarding the safety and working conditions of field-level administrative officers.