Kendrapara: Mahakalapada Police have arrested another person in connection with the controversy involving Tikhiri Sarpanch Chameli Ojha and the block administration. The arrested accused has been identified as Himanshu Pradhan. Police had earlier arrested Parthasarathy Samantray in the same case.
The case relates to allegations that Chameli Ojha was misbehaved with inside the chamber of the Block Development Officer (BDO), triggering widespread protests and political reactions in the district.
Meanwhile, Chameli Ojha was discharged from hospital on Thursday after undergoing treatment for a week. According to her, a delay in the issuance of discharge documents postponed her release from 10 a.m. to around 2 p.m. Following her discharge, she proceeded directly to the office of the Kendrapara District Collector.
Speaking to reporters, Chameli said the District Sarpanch Association would stage a dharna in front of the District Collector’s office on June 20. She also informed that she has written to the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Inspector General (IG) seeking justice in the matter.
Warning of intensified agitation, Chameli said that if justice is not delivered within seven days, she would organise a mass dharna in front of the Kendrapara Superintendent of Police’s office on July 4.
The controversy also drew political attention, with Mahakalapada MLA Durga Prasanna Nayak breaking his silence nearly a week after the incident. The legislator alleged that Chameli had become a victim of a political conspiracy.
However, Chameli criticised the MLA’s remarks, indicating her dissatisfaction with his response to the incident.
Police investigation into the case is continuing, while the issue remains a subject of political and public debate in Kendrapara district.
