Bhubaneswar: Miscreants allegedly demolished and looted the statue of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik at Siali Beach under Ersama block in Jagatsinghpur district.
The statue was installed at Siali Beach and was inaugurated by former minister late Damodar Rout in 2019.Following the incident, Padmapur Sarpanch Pratima Rani Patra has lodged a written complaint at Ersama Police Station.
The incident has triggered resentment among local politicians and intellectuals, who have demanded immediate identification of the culprits and stringent action against them.
It is pertinent to mention that just two days ago, another statue of veteran politician and former minister Damodar Rout, erected near Siali Beach, was dismantled by the Forest Department, citing that it was constructed on forest land without permission, just ahead of its scheduled inauguration.
