BARGARH:Two persons were arrested by Bheden police on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in kidnapping of Sugri Ranbeda, a member of Rusuda Service Co-operative Society. The two - Sadanand Khamari of Bagiapali and P Satyanarayan of Bheden - were arrested from Binka.
Along with one Dumatsen Rana of Dhatukpali, the two had allegedly taken Sugri to the official residence of Handloom and Textile Minister Snehangini Chhuria in Bhubaneswar on January 18. Rana is yet to be arrested and police are investigating the Minister’s alleged involvement in the case.
Two weeks ago, Sugri had alleged that he was kidnapped and confined to the official residence of Chhuria in Bhubaneswar to prevent him from voting in cooperative election. Election to the cooperative society was held on January 25.
After Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra raised the issue in the Assembly, last week police decided to take him to Bhubaneswar where he claimed he was confined. While police were approaching Boudh, one of the officers received a call and was asked to take Sugri back to his village at Rusuda.
In his complaint to the Bargarh SP on January 27, Sugri had alleged that on January 18, supporters of Chhuria - Khamari, Satyanarayan and Rana - took him to the residence of the Minister in Bargarh. Later, he was taken to the Minister’s residence at Bhubaneswar. When he requested the Minister to allow him to cast his vote, Chhuria allegedly locked him in her house and went to Kalahandi on a tour. Later, he was dropped in his village.
Chhuria, however, refuted the allegations.