An awareness camp on various schemes of the State Government under the PEETHA initiative at Gatiroutpatna GP under Cuttack Sadar block on Saturday turned violent when a woman sarpanch and her family members were brutally attacked by a group of BJD activists.
In her FIR filed at the local Chauliaganj police station, Sarpanch Laxmipriya Swain alleged that a group of four to five persons attacked her and mercilessly thrashed her husband and son at the meeting place. The three have sustained grievous injuries in their hands, heads and faces. She alleged that the attackers are supporters of local MLA and Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera.
“While I stood up in the meeting to make announcement for distribution of LED bulbs, the group jumped upon me and snatched the bulbs. My son and husband, who were standing beside me, were also attacked when they tried to give me protection,” Swain said, adding that the attackers had guns with them; and using the butts of the guns, they went on a rampage.
Identifying the attackers, she alleged that they are works contractors and very close to Minister Behera. But when contacted, Behera denied the allegation, saying, “Since a police complaint has been made, the police will investigate the case and the culprits will be taken to task.”