Police on Sunday arrested BJP Angul district president Bhagirathi Pradhan for his alleged involvement in the violence that erupted in the aftermath of the death of a man in tigress Sundari’s attack in Satkosia on October 21.
After arresting Pradhan from Mendhasala on Bhubaneswar outskirts, the police produced him in a court here. He was sent to jail.
Earlier, the police had arrested 28 persons in this connection.
It may be noted that a villager, Trinath Sahu, was allegedly mauled to death by Sundari on October 21 and subsequently locals had blocked the National Highway 55 at Mundasahi Chhak keeping the body on the road. The agitators pelted stones at police and set a police van and other vehicles on fire.
Meanwhile, opposing the arrest, BJP leaders like former MP RN Pany, State general secretary Kalandi Samal, Pratap Pradhan, Minaketan Amant staged a demonstration in front of the Angul SP office here and burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister.
BJP State vice-president Sameer Mohanty said, “BJP Angul president has been arrested on political vendetta. The BJD Government is trying to suppress the opposition parties in violation of democratic norms.”
