Bhubaneswar: Widespread protests erupted across as many as 14 districts in Odisha as officers of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) launched agitation following an alleged attack on Ratnakar Sahu, Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
According to reports, the protests have disrupted administrative operations in multiple districts, causing significant public inconvenience.
In Jagatsinghpur, all OAS officers—including Deputy Collectors, Additional District Magistrates, Sub-Collectors, and Block Development Officers—went on mass leave, bringing government functions to a halt. They submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, vowing to continue their work abstention indefinitely until their demands are met.
Similar protests unfolded in Jharsuguda, where officers ceased work, delaying public services. In Sundargarh, Odisha Administrative Service Association (OASA) members, led by Additional District Magistrate Abhimanyu Majhi, condemned the attack as “barbaric” and demanded strict action, announcing an indefinite strike.
The Puri OASA issued a one-day ultimatum, warning of mass leave if no action is taken by Wednesday, July 2, 2025. However, officers decided against an immediate work stoppage due to the ongoing Rath Yatra.
Meanwhile, in Bhadrak, members of both the OASA and Odisha Revenue Service Association staged a demonstration outside the Collector’s office, demanding swift justice. Nabarangpur also joined the agitation, with officers proceeding on mass leave.
The protests across districts reflect growing unrest among bureaucrats over safety and administrative accountability.
