BJD Member of Parliament from Mayurbhanj Laxman Tudu skippedthe party's Jana Sampark Padayatra in Kuliana and Sarasakana blocks following aseries of threat calls allegedly from suspected left wing extremists.
While Tudu, who is also the ruling party’s districtpresident, has sought police protection, the calls have left the policeadministration in a tizzy as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is also scheduled tovisit the district on October 15.
According to the complaint lodged with the Chandua policestation on Wednesday, Tudu first received a threat call on his Odisha cellnumber on October 4 and the caller demanded Rs 10 lakh from him. He was alsothreatened with dire consequences if he did not pay the amount by October 7.
Quoting the FIR, officer-in-charge of Chandua police stationJayanarayan Khandei said Tudu got another call from the same number next daywhen the caller who identified himself as a Maoist asked to pay the amount atKalabadi village, a place along NH-5 under Kuliana police limits in thedistrict.
“The caller again called the MP on October 7 and when Tududid not respond, he sent a SMS threatening him with dire consequences for notpaying the money. Following the FIR, we have registered a case under section506 and 384 of IPC and are tracking the cell number from which the calls weremade,” he informed.
Police said they have tightened security of Tudu at hisChandua residence. Though sources said in the wake of the threat calls the MPleft his residence for one of his relatives’ house at Baripada, he denied itsaying he had been residing in his own home.
Tudu however admitted that he had skipped a couple ofmeetings following suggestions from the Superintendent of Police for securityreasons. “Initially I thought someone might be joking with me. But when Ireceived second call followed by the SMS I decided to lodge a complaint withthe police to find out the people behind it. Everybody knows, I am a peaceloving man and live a simple life. I too have no enmity with anyone, so whywould anyone threaten me?” he surprised.
Meanwhile, police have taken the matter seriously as formerJMM MP Sudam Marandi was attacked by a group of left wing extremists in Chanduaarea in 2009 during a football tournament when three persons along with his twoPSOs and one assistant sub-inspector of police were killed.
Police said elaborate security arrangements have been madefor the CM’s scheduled visit. Naveen is slated to tour Bangriposhi, Jamda,Bijatala and Baripada and attend a series of programmes on Monday.