Jajpur: Former MLA and BJD leader Pranab Kumar Balabantray has alleged that he and his supporters were attacked during his party’s ‘Jan Samperk Padyatra’ in Madhupurgarh Gram Panchayat under Jenapur police station limits in Jajpur district on Sunday.
Balabantray met the Jajpur Superintendent of Police and submitted a written complaint, alleging that the attack was politically motivated and that local MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahu was behind the incident.
According to the complaint, the incident took place around 3 pm when Balabantray and BJD workers were conducting ‘Jan Samperk Padyatra’- a public outreach programme of BJD in the Gadmadhupur area. Miscreants allegedly hurled bricks and stones at his vehicle, damaging three vehicles, including his car.
Balabantray further alleged that after the initial attack, the miscreants went to the residence of Jagadish Jenamani, issued death threats and again attacked him. The incident allegedly took place in the presence of police personnel.
A video purportedly showing the incident has since surfaced on social media.
Balabantray alleged that the attack was pre-planned and politically motivated and demanded immediate registration of an FIR and stringent action against those involved.
He also urged the police to preserve and collect all available evidence, including CCTV footage, mobile phone videos, photographs, police records and weapons allegedly used in the attack, and identify all those involved.
Meanwhile, BJD leaders and workers staged a demonstration outside the Panikoili SP office, protesting the alleged attack on Balabantray and demanding action against the accused.
