Khordha: Chilika MLA Prasanta Kumar Jagadev is in police custody.
“Chilika MLA though undergoing treatment is in police custody. Immediately after completion of his treatment, we will arrest him and then forward him to jail,” informed IG (Central Range) Narasingha Bhol.
Briefing reporters, Bhol said that Jagadev has been booked for attempt to murder, and for obstructing police personnel from performing their duties.
The IG informed that though the situation is peaceful, as a precautionary measure section 144 CrPC has been proclaimed in Banpur urban area.
“We request to the people not to gather more than five persons at any place after 6 PM,” the IG added.
Describing the sequence of events, Bhol stated that in view of the Panchayat Samiti Chairman election elected Panchayat Samiti members and their supporters had gathered at the Banpur block office.
“While a large crowd had gathered in front of the block office, Chilika MLA Prasanta Kumar Jagadev came driving his car. Since there was a huge gathering, policemen on duty including Banpur IIC Rashmi Ranjan Sahu asked Jagadev not to move ahead,” stated Bhol.
The IG said that Jagadev giving a damn to the IIC’s words threatened to plough down the crowd.
All senior police officers present there pleaded with him to desist from doing so and step out of the vehicle as a lot of people had surrounded his car, but he did not listen and by starting the car attempted to run it over the people, the IG added.
“In this inhuman act six members of the general public, 10 policemen, and two journalists have been injured. The condition of three of them is stated to be serious. All have been shifted to the hospital. Arrangements are being made to provide them with the best of possible treatment,” Bhol stated.
He said a case has been registered at the Banpur police station in this regard.
The investigation of the matter has been vested with SDPO.
