Family ‘ostracised’ for political rivalry
BARGARH : Members of a family in Ghess village under Melchhamunda police station limits here have been allegedly ostracised by villagers over political rivalry. The incident came to light when Pankajini Sahu of the village met ASP Jasobanta Senapati, along with her family members seeking protection of their lives and property.In her complaint, Sahu has accused Sohela block BJD president and Zilla Parishad member Dayanidhi Patel of instigating villagers Khirod Sahu, Sasthi Barik, Sribasta Mohapatra, Dhirendra Patel, Birendra Patel, Tikelala Sahu and Pankaj Thela for torturing her family members over a political feud. She alleged that the villagers had attacked her father-in-law Shyamlal Sahu on Friday night and a year back, they had forcibly taken their tractor and MUV.
Sahu further claimed that the accused asked other villagers to isolate their family with the help of the village chowkidar on Saturday morning. The chowkidar had warned the villagers of paying a penalty of `300, on interacting with the Sahu family or working for them.Meanwhile, the villagers have refuted the allegations. Instead, they have accused Pankajini’s husband Jagabandhu of embezzling funds worth `7,16, 503, while he was the secretary of village development committee and naib sarpanch during 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively. They claimed that the family is trying not to pay back the embezzled amount. Moreover, they said Jagabandhu had himself handed over his vehicles as guarantees, till he returns back the entire amount.