Odisha: Sarpanch aspirant, Samiti Member candidate arrested for distributing cash, liquor

Nayagarh: As many as three persons, including a Sarpanch aspirant and a Samiti Member candidate for the ongoing panchayat polls in Odisha, have been arrested in Mayurajhalia panchayat under Ranapur block of Nayagarh district for allegedly distributing cash and liquor among voters to woo them.

The accused have been identified as Sarpanch aspirant Sushant Kumar Kalasa, Samiti Member candidate Manmanth Tripathi and Nanda Maharana, husband of a ward member candidate.

According to reports, locals yesterday detained the three when they were distributing cash and liquor among the villagers of Mayurajhalia and handed them over to Chandpur police.

Cops have seized two motorcycles and 10 litres of liquor from the possession of the trio.

In a similar incident, locals intercepted a liquor-laden tractor in Astaranga area of Puri district, last night and detained two persons. Local police have seized the tractor and detained the duo for questioning.

It is being suspected that the liquor was transported to a panchayat of Astaranga area for wooing voters.