ZP member arrested in Odisha town after tribal unrest

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Sep 9, 2015 at 5:05 PM Updated On : Sep 9, 2015 at 5:09 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bolangir, Sep 9:

Police in this western Odisha town today arrested Baijayanti Saraf, Zilla Parishad (ZP) member from Khaprakhol on charges of assaulting district planning officer of Bolangir Mahendranath Munda after hundreds of tribals owing allegiance to the District Adivasi Sangh have laid siege to the conference hall of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) where the Zilla Parishad is having its meeting demanding action against her and her husband.

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Sangh members have now gheraoed the Bolangir Town police station demanding that Saraf be handed over to them so that they can punish her. Tension prevails in the area.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of tribals armed with traditional weapons marched in a rally to the conference hall of the DRDA located close to the district police headquarters in the heart of the town and gheraoed it while the Zilla Parishad was having its meeting inside.

The Sangh office bearers clashed with the policemen on duty when they were prevented from barging into the conference hall.

Police, which had no information or intelligence inputs about the rally, was completely taken unawares.

Sangh members alleged that the district planning officer of Bolangir Mahendranath Munda a few days back was attacked by Dhruba Charan Saraf, the husband of Baijayanti Saraf, Zilla Parishad member from Khaprakhol. They have alleged that no action has been taken against Dhruba Charan Saraf or his zilla parishad member wife.