IOCL fallout: BJP files case against BJD MLA Debashish Samantaray

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 9:

Odisha BJP’s Tirtol MLA candidate in 2014 elections Ramakanta Bhoi today filed an FIR against BJD Barabati MLA Debashish Samantaray in Tirtol police station alleging that Samantaray attempted to break the barricade during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tour to the state last Sunday.

Odisha unit of the saffron party also accused Energy and Information Technology Minister Pranab Prakash Das of attempting to break the barricade and tearing down passes to restrict BJP supporters in IOCL meeting venue at Paradip.

Yesterday, BJP had accused that BJD MLAs – Debashish Samantaray, Pravat Biswal and Pramod Mallick attempted to block the road in the midnight to discourage BJP followers from coming to Paradip. BJP Spokesperson Sajjan Sharma further alleged that Mallick’s supporters tried to ransack about 15 vehicles carrying BJP followers.

BJD, on the other hand, pointed out to a visual doing rounds in various television channels today and accused BJP of hooliganism. BJD Niali MLA Pramod Mallick was seen walking in the middle of the street – donning a saffron cap and a BJP stole draped around shoulders in the visual. The visual also showcased lathi yielding BJP supporters around him.

Notably, Pramod Mallick on Sunday accused that BJP workers assaulted him and forced him to wear BJP stole and cap and asked him to shout Pro-BJP slogans. While his car had been vandalized, he had to undergo treatment at SCB Medical College after the incident.