Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association has issued a three-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding the immediate arrest of BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, who has been named the prime accused in the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.
Following an emergency meeting, OAS Association President Jyoti Ranjan Mishra addressed the media, stating that while officers will continue their duties during the Rath Yatra and in flood-affected areas, the association expects swift and decisive action from the government.
“We thank the Chief Minister for ensuring the prompt arrest of several individuals involved. But we demand exemplary action against the main accused. The investigation must not drag on. It should be completed within three days,” Mishra said.
The association outlined three key demands: Immediate arrest of Jagannath Pradhan; Enhanced security and safety for officers at workplaces; & A strong public condemnation of the incident by the state government
The OAS Association emphasized their trust in the Chief Minister but warned that failure to meet their demands within the timeframe would lead to an intensification of their agitation.
The alleged assault took place during a grievance redressal meeting at the BMC office, when a group of individuals reportedly barged in and attacked Additional Commissioner Sahoo. The Commissionerate Police have registered a case and arrested five persons so far.
Earlier, the association had unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attack and called for stringent action and improved workplace security for government officials.
