BJD infighting: Tirtol MLA levels abduction charges against Bishnu Das

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 22:

A day before election is to be held for the posts of Vice-Chairpersons in Zilla Parishads in Odisha, in a clear sign of infighting within the BJD in Jagatsinghpur district, the party’s legislator from Tirtol Rajashree Mallick today levelled serious allegation against senior party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Bishnu Das.

The BJD MLA has indirectly accused Bishnu Das of being involved in the abductions of a Panchayat Samiti Member and husband of another Panchayat Samiti Member.

As many as 12 Panchayat Samiti Members of Raghunathpur block had put up at the Puri Hotel, Mallick said.

Panchayat Samiti Member of Adheikula panchayat Manoj Kumar Sethi and Binod Mallick, husband of Chhabilata Mallick,  Panchayat Samiti Member of Dharahar panchayat have been abducted, she added.

A complaint in this regard has been registered with the police at Puri, she further added.

“Election for Vice Chairman will be held tomorrow. About 11-12 Panchayat Samiti Members of Raghunathpur block had put up at Puri Hotel. Two of them had come out of the hotel to drink tea, they are untraceable. We have filed an FIR with the police there. They who had tried all means even offered money to the Members to get their nominee get elected as the Chairman but had failed; they are now trying to get their nominee elected as the Vice-Chairman. You all know they are his (Bishnu Das) men,” alleged Mallick.

However, Bishnu Das has rubbished the allegation made by Tirtol MLA.

“I have no knowledge who these Panchayat Samiti Members are. I had been to Delhi to tender my resignation from Rajya Sabha. I have arrived in Bhubaneswar today. I wasn’t here for the last three days. I have no idea,” Das said in his reply to Mallick’s allegation.