Minister’s condition improves as his family lodges FIR on attack

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri/Bhubaneswar, Feb 23:

The family of Law and Culture minister Maheswar Mohanty today formally lodged an FIR with the Puri Town police station on the murderous assault on the minister on Friday night.

The FIR did not name anybody, police sources said.

The minister’s son Sunil Mohanty who lodged the FIR on the incident told reporters that he and his family were satisfied with the progress of the investigation by the police and were confident that the culprits will be nabbed soon. He said their family had been receiving threat calls for some but this being the election year had chosen to ignore them.

According to latest medical reports, there has been a definite improvement in the minister’s health after the lapse of 24 hours of the observation period. Rajkishore Padhi, Managing Director of Kalinga Hospital where teh minister is under treatment, told reporters that although there has been improvement in minister Mohanty’s health, it wouldn’t be proper to say that he is alright because he has injuries in vital organs.

Padhi said a team of doctors is constantly monitoring his health condition.

A stream of visitors which mainly included BJD members and well wishers, thronged the hospital today,. However, the authorities have put restrictions on visitors entering the ICU where Mohanty is lodged.

Hospital sources said Mohanty had liquid diet and was in a jolly mood today.

BJD MP from Puri Pinaki Mishra who visited the hospital said that the minister greeted him with a smile and said he will be getting well soon.

Mishra said Mohanty has a strong will power and that explains why he has been able take everything in his stride.