BHUBANESWAR: Once again, the ruling BJD has been left red-faced by Begunia MLA Prasant Jagdev.
On Tuesday, the controversial legislator was accused of hurling a lantern at a woman OAS officer at Bolagarh while members of the third gender also lodged a complaint against him for allegedly assaulting a woman in his constituency.
Jagdev allegedly hit Bolagarh Tehsildar Niharika Nayak with a lantern on Monday night when the woman officer was on duty attending to an eviction-related issue.
“When Jagdev asked me to demolish an illegal construction during the night, I insisted that as per protocol, the administration cannot carry out eviction after sunset. The argument intensified as I stuck to my decision following which the MLA hit me with a lantern he was holding,” Nayak told Express.
The incident triggered tension in the area as Government employees staged a protest against the MLA. Staffers of Bolagarh Tehsil office went on a day-long cease work demanding action against Jagdev.
Khurda ADM held discussion with the agitating employees and assured them of an early resolution of the matter. District Magistrate Niranjan Sahu also held an emergency meeting at Khurda Collectorate in the evening in this regard.
On the day, representatives of the third gender lodged complaints against the MLA with the Capital and Mahila Police alleging his involvement in assault of a woman in his constituency.
It is not the first time that Jagdev’s actions have landed him in soup. The MLA was seen arguing with doctors of Capital Hospital after the SUM Hospital fire mishap over the release of a patient of his constituency.
Prior to this, in a widely circulated video, he was seen hurling abuses at a group of youths who had set up a shed near his quarters at Unit III area in the City.
Jagdev was also caught on camera thrashing BJP workers who hurled black flags at BJD Ministers during protest over Mahanadi issue.
President of OAS Officers’ Association Saroj Samal said the matter would be taken up with the Chief Secretary and if necessary, they will approach Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard.