BARGARH: A dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BYJM) to protest the arrest of BYJM State secretary Irasis Acharya paralysed normal life in Bhatli town of the district on Friday.
Police on Thursday had arrested Irasis, a native of Bhatli, for his alleged involvement in a firing incident that had occurred at the office of BJP in the town on June 1.
A youth, Bulu Satnami of Sohela in the district, had died in the incident. The police had earlier arrested Pramod Podh and Bablu Nag for their involvement in the firing incident.
The 12-hour bandh saw closure of State and Central Government offices, banks, markets and shops. However, educational institutions were exempted from the bandh and traffic movement was also normal.
The BYJM activists also staged a protest meeting over the issue near Bhatli bus stand. Bargarh district BJYM president Pritesh Bohidar said the arrest of Irasis is politically motivated. “Police arrested him at the behest of Energy Minister Susanta Singh without any concrete evidence,” he alleged. Bohidar said Irasis was not present at the spot at the time of the incident.
On Wednesday, Irasis was brought to Bargarh Town police station for interrogation in connection with the firing incident. Subsequently, he was arrested under Sections 302, 114 and 34 of IPC besides 25, 27 and 29 of Arms Act. Police said the BJYM leader was arrested on the basis of the statement of his bodyguard Pramod Podh besides other evidence.