BARGARH: Hours after campaigning ended for the Bijepur Assembly by-poll on Thursday, labour minister Susanta Singh’s brother Subrat Singh and three of his associates came under a murderous attack by unidentified miscreants in a village under Sohela police limits of the district late at night.
Police suspect the violence is related to by-poll for the constituency scheduled to be held on Saturday. The three associates of ministers’ younger brother, who have been injured in the incident, have been identified as Kartika Nag, Maji Sahu and Khageswar Mahalik.
The injured were rushed to Sohela Community Health Centre and later shifted to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla for better medical care.
Sources said the minister’s younger brother had apparently received a tip-off that BJP workers who were staying at an Ashram in Banabira were distributing money to influence voters. Subrat along with his associates rushed to the spot in a car. But a group of miscreants, numbering about 30, intercepted the car and attacked the four with sticks and weapon, injuring them severely. They also damaged the car, in which Subrat and his associate were travelling.
Locals informed the police who shifted the injured to hospital. Police have reportedly detained three persons in connection with the attack and further investigation is on.
With the election only a day away, heavy security arrangement has been made to ensure that the polling is not affected. At least eight companies of central armed police force have already been mobilised to Barharh while 34 platoons of Odisha State Armed Police Force are deployed too. There 281 polling booths under Bijepur Assembly segment.