A violent assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo has sparked outrage in Odisha, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the attack.
The incident, which occurred on June 30, 2025, during a public grievance hearing, saw Sahoo dragged from his office and brutally beaten, allegedly by BJP workers linked to leader Jagannath Pradhan.
At a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, BJD leaders, including Bhubaneswar District President Ashok Panda, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, and MLAs Ananta Narayan Jena and Sushant Rout, condemned the attack as “barbaric,” surpassing “British-era atrocities”. They demanded the immediate arrest of all assailants and conspirators, citing Pradhan’s alleged provocation.
“This is a gangster-like act that shames Odisha,” Panda said, highlighting a collapse in law and order under BJP rule. Das noted that only five of the six to seven attackers were arrested, urging charges under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for abetment.
The Odisha Administrative Service Association announced a mass leave protest, later deferred after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi promised action. The attack, captured on CCTV, involved BJP corporator Jeevan Rout and others, with five arrested under serious charges.
The BJP suspended five members, including Rout, while Pradhan denied involvement, alleging political vendetta. Protests erupted, with BJD supporters and BMC staff blocking Janpath Road.
Former CM Naveen Patnaik expressed shock on X, urging exemplary action to restore public faith.
As police investigate, the case remains a political flashpoint, testing the Majhi government’s commitment to justice.
