JAGATSINGHPUR: The clash between the BJD and the BJP intensified on Wednesday with members of the saffron outfit taking to the streets demanding arrest of Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasish Samantray for creating tension and attacking BJP workers on Sunday during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP workers took out rallies in Tirtol, Paradip and Kujang after 11 workers of the party were arrested earlier in the day for attacking BJD MLA Pramod Kumar Mallick. The 11 workers were arrested following an FIR filed by Mallick’s PSO Badal Kumar Bhoi against BJP supporters at Tirtol police station on Tuesday.
He had alleged that he and Mallick were attacked while going to Paradip to attend the PM’s meeting.
However, the BJP workers alleged that the names of those arrested have not been mentioned in the FIR filed by Bhoi. Police have no evidence regarding the involvement of BJP workers in Tirtol violence, alleged district BJP president Upendra Biswal. While Gatikrushna Satpathy led the workers at Kujang, BJP Yuva Morcha staged a stir at Paradip and burnt effigy of Samantray.
All the arrested were produced in the court of Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate, who rejected their bail petition.
IIC of Tirtol police station Abhinab Dalua said an FIR was filed by a BJP leader against Samantray for assaulting him and his supporters but the case has not been registered. “We are discussing with higher officials regarding registration of the case,” he added.
Earlier, Tirtol police had arrested seven BJD workers of Niali and forwarded them to court for their alleged involvement in vandalising Tirtol police station on Sunday. Police have registered three cases in connection with the Sunday’s violence.