‘MLA Samir Dash after me; I fear for my life’, alleges BJD woman worker

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : Oct 14, 2023 at 10:31 PM

Bhubaneswar: A woman activist of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleged that she was harassed by some people at the behest of Nimapara MLA Samir Ranjan Dash.

The woman BJD activist, Jyotsna Rani Nayak, claimed that some supporters of the Nimapara legislator have threatened to kill her.

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“I am an active member of the BJD and I am trying my best to strengthen the party in Nimapara constituency. However, some people are harassing me at the behest of local MLA Samir Ranjan Dash,” Nayak said.

Nayak has lodged a complaint in this regard with Gop police in Odisha’s Puri district.

In her complaint, Nayak alleged that some supporters of Nimapara MLA including Mandip Paikray, Debasish Sahoo, Sitab Alli Sekh and Ramana Pattanayak had intercepted her vehicle at Kushupur on October 9 and hurled expletives at her.

“The MLA’s supporters also threatened to set me on fire along with my vehicle,” Nayak said in her complaint.

The woman BJD activist urged the police to initiate stern action against the persons involved in the incident.

“I am quite sure that the Nimapara MLA is behind the October 9 incident. He is instigating his supporters against me,” Nayak alleged.

The Opposition BJP, meanwhile, targeted the ruling party over the allegations levelled against the Nimapara legislator. “The ruling party should take immediate action against the MLA,” said BJP leader Pravati Parida.

The ruling party, however, rejected the allegations. “There is no truth in the allegations levelled against Nimapara MLA. People are quite aware that the BJD government is working for their development,” said BJD leader and MLA Ananta Narayan Jena.

BJD Nimapara president Jibananand Mohanty, meanwhile, claimed that Nayak was never associated with the ruling party. “Nayak is a BJP activist. The opposition party has no real issue against the BJD government and Nimapara MLA. So, it is raising some fake allegations,” Mohanty added.

Notably, the BJP had alleged the involvement of Nimapara MLA in the death by ‘suicide’ of BJD Zilla Parishad Member Dharmendra Sahu in September last year.

Odisha-based outfit Nyaya Painee Ladhei Parivar has filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking justice for the woman BJD activist.