Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal and former Chief Minister of Odisha, has condemned an alleged violent attack on senior party leader and former Dharmasala MLA Pranab Balabantray, describing it as a grave failure of law and order.
The incident took place on Sunday afternoon in Madhupurgada Gram Panchayat under Jenapur Police Station in Jajpur district. According to Balabantray’s complaint, a group of around 40 to 50 people carrying swords, axes and other weapons assaulted him and his supporters while they were participating in the BJD’s statewide Jan Sampark Padayatra. Three vehicles, including Balabantray’s, were damaged. He later submitted a written complaint to the Jajpur Superintendent of Police seeking registration of an FIR, preservation of CCTV and mobile footage, recovery of weapons, and protection for himself and witnesses.
In a statement posted on X, Patnaik said the attack occurred in broad daylight and questioned the response of both the police and the state government. “Who is giving the criminals this courage?” he asked, adding that public representatives were being targeted in the presence of police. He further stated that such incidents were recurring in Dharmasala and elsewhere in Odisha, and that the government had yet to take firm action visible to the public.
ଖୋଲା ଦିବାଲୋକରେ ଜନପ୍ରତିନିଧିଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ମରଣାନ୍ତକ ଆକ୍ରମଣ ହେଉଛି, ପୋଲିସ୍ ଚୁପ୍, ସରକାର ଚୁପ୍, କ’ଣ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଗୁଣ୍ଡାରାଜ୍ ଚାଲିଛି?
ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ନେତା ତଥା ଧର୍ମଶାଳାର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟକ ପ୍ରଣବ ବଳବନ୍ତରାୟଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଜେନାପୁର ଥାନା ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ମଧୁପୁରଗଡ଼ଠାରେ ହୋଇଥିବା ଆକ୍ରମଣ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ନିନ୍ଦନୀୟ।
ପୋଲିସ୍ ଉପସ୍ଥିତିରେ…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 4, 2026
Balabantray has alleged that the attackers were supporters and associates of sitting Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo. The constituency has seen repeated confrontations between the two sides since the 2024 Assembly elections, when Sahoo defeated Balabantray. Earlier clashes in the area, including an attack on Balabantray’s vehicle in 2025 and violence at a farmhouse later that year, also led to police cases and arrests from both groups.
The episode comes more than two years after the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assumed office in June 2024, ending the BJD’s long rule. Opposition leaders have repeatedly cited incidents of political violence as evidence of deteriorating law and order, while the government has maintained that police are acting independently on complaints.
Patnaik’s statement ends with a warning that people of Odisha are watching and will hold the government accountable for what he termed anarchy and misrule.
As of the latest reports, Balabantray’s supporters had gathered at the Superintendent of Police’s office demanding immediate arrests, while police said they were examining the complaint and available evidence.
