JAJPUR: Two separate FIRs have been registered at Jenapur police station in connection with the alleged attack on BJD leader and former Dharmasala MLA Pranab Balabantaray.
Police said while one complaint was received from Balabantray, another was filed by supporters of sitting MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo on Sunday night. Based on the complaints from the two sides, two separate FIRs have been registered and investigation is underway.
Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal said CCTV footage and mobile recording of the incident are being collected. “We have started the process to identify the people involved in the attack. Appropriate action would be taken after investigation,” he said.
The SP informed that a senior police officer is supervising the investigation while police personnel have been deployed at Gada Madhupur.
Balbantray was allegedly attacked by a group of around 50 armed miscreants at Gada Madhupur village under Jenapur police limits on Sunday. The BJD leader was returning home after attending the regional party’s Jan Sampark Padyatra when the alleged attack took place.
While his vehicle suffered major damage, Balabantaray was rescued by BJD workers and his supporters present at the spot. The attack reportedly occurred in presence of more than 40 policemen.
Balabantaray claimed that the attackers were BJP workers and supporters of local MLA Sahoo. He also staged protest in front of the office of the Jajpur SP along with hundreds of his supporters demanding immediate arrest of the attackers.
All BJD leaders of the district including Binjharpur MLA Pramila Malik, Jajpur MLA Sujata Sahu, Bari MLA Biswaranjan Mallick, former ministers Pranab Prakash Das and Pritiranjan Ghadei besides former MP Shramistha Sethy joined the protest. The protest was withdrawn after the Jajpur SP assured that all miscreants would be arrested within 48 hours.
On the other hand, supporters of Dharmasala MLA Sahoo staged a separate protest outside Jenapur police station demanding action against Balbantray for causing unrest in the area.