Odisha: BDO assaulted over erroneous reporting on panchayat poll result

Baripada: A Block Development Officer (BDO) was injured critically in Mayurbhanj district after some villagers attacked the official today over an Odia daily’s report on result of the panchayat polls.

As per the daily’s report, Kabita Nayak won the poll for the Sarpanch post for Baladhia gram panchayat under Shyamakhunta block. But when the block office today announced Shakuntala Nayak has won the poll for the Sarpanch post, supporters of Kabita Nayak barged into the office.

The protestors then entered BDO Jashobanta Behera’s chamber in the office and attacked him. The BDO sustained grievous injuries in the attack.

After being informed, the Baripada Sadar Police officials reached the block office. They rescued the BDO and admitted him to the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada.

The protestors also demanded re-polling for the panchayat and bar on the BDO from joining the poll duty for next five years.

Till filing of this report, no one was arrested in connection with the incident.