Two Odisha MLAs scuffle with police while trying to barge into govt office

Sambalpur: Two BJP legislators today engaged in melee with police while trying to barge into the District Collector’s office in Sambalpur today.

As restrictions have been imposed on people visiting the Sambalpur Collectorate till August 31 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra and Rengali MLA Nauri Nayak along with supporters were stopped by the police from entering the Collector’s office.

But the two legislators were not ready to adhere to the Sambalpur District administration’s directive and wanted to meet Sambalpur Collector Shubham Saxena to submit a memorandum.

For a brief period, tension prevailed outside the Collectorate when Mishra and Nayak tried to enter the government office building.

In his reaction, Mishra said preventing the people’s representatives from entering the Collector’s office is unconstitutional. He further accused the district administrations of not paying attention to the issues of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sambalpur police later booked both the legislators for allegedly attempting to enter the government office forcibly.

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