The assault sparked a protest by the corporators from the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and staff members of the BMC, who staged a road blockade on the bustling Janpath Road of the capital city of Odisha.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Administration Service Association has decided to go on “mass leave” from Tuesday (July 1) in protest against the attack on Ratnakar Sahoo.
“Nobody Is Safe”
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his deep shock at “brutal kicking and assault” of Additional Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and called upon Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take immediate and exemplary action against the guilty including “political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this shameful attack”.
“I am utterly shocked seeing this video. Today, Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, OAS Additional Commissioner, BMC, a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary was dragged from his office and brutally kicked and assaulted in front of a BJP Corporator, allegedly linked to a defeated BJP MLA Candidate,” Mr Patnaik wrote on X.He said that it was appalling that it happened in full public view, in the heart of the capital city, to a senior officer. “If a senior officer is not safe in his own office, then what law and order will ordinary citizens expect from the Government?” he said.
BMC Mayor Sulochana Das condemned the incident and demanded that an attempted murder case be filed against the accused.
“Nobody is safe here. A government officer was dragged out of his office by 5-6 men. He was assaulted, and there was an attempt to abduct him. We had the visuals and even shared them with the media. An attempt to murder case should be filed against them. We had filed an FIR, but only three people have been arrested. All accused should be arrested…”
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