Berhampur, Oct. 28: A BJD worker attacked Seragada's child development project officer (CDPO) Chandrakala Swain yesterday at Dhabalpur village allegedly for not recruiting one of his supporters in the post of an anganwadi helper.
Chandrakala received injuries to her chest and waist and was admitted to the Seragada Community Health Centre. Later, she was shifted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Swain had yesterday appointed an anganwadi helper at Dhabalpur village in Naveen Patnaik's Hinjili Assembly constituency. A source in the district administration, who did not want to be named, said that the recruitment was done in a fair and transparent manner. This has reportedly irked local BJD worker Debi Prasad Das alias Koka who wanted his candidate to get the government job.
"About 30 women, including the supervisor and anganwadi workers, were present at a meeting when Das barged into the venue and sought to know the reason for not inviting the local sarpanch to the event," said Swain.
"Das used abusive language and along with his brother Bibhu and father Sarat dragged me from the meeting hall by grabbing my hair. He hit me in front of the villagers who remained mute spectators. I was rescued by other women who attended the meeting," she said.
Das also allegedly threatened Swain's husband who went to Seragada police station to lodge a complaint yesterday. Supporters of Das also threatened to kill Swain, her husband and their nephew if they dared to approach police.
However, Das was arrested after Swain lodged a complaint today, said district police superintendent Ashis Singh.
"Upon hearing the case, the additional police superintendent asked us to lodge an FIR in the Seragada police station. On receiving the complaint, they swung into action," she said.
Kalpana Mahakuda, the president of the district women's wing of BJP, today staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to the inspector general of police (southern range) in Berhampur demanding strict action against Das and his associates.
