Sambalpur, Sept. 28: Tension gripped the city last night following two separate incidents of blank firing on the eve of the by-polls for a civic ward of the Sambalpur Municipality. The BJD and Congress have been blaming each other for engaging in pre-poll violence.

President of Sambalpur district Biju Janata Dal Rohit Pujari said: “Three rounds of bullets were fired near the BJD office. The spot, where the firing took place, is just a few meters away from the Dhanupali police station. BJD workers, who were present in the office, chased the goons but they managed to escape. A case has been lodged with the police.”

BJD workers demonstrated near the residence of the superintendent of police demanding action against the goons. Pujari accused Congress workers of being involved in the incident.

“The strength of the BJD is increasing in the district. The party won the panchayat polls. The growth has disappointed the opposition party and they have done this to terrorise our party workers,” said Pujari.

The second case of blank firing was reported from A.N. Guha Lane. The Congress leadership of the district accused BJD activists of being behind the incident with the intention of scaring the Congress workers of the area.

“Around 11.30pm, Biju Janata Dal workers attacked Congress workers at A.N. Guha Lane. BJD district president Rohit Pujari was present at the spot. When Pujari got to know that we were lodging a case, he staged a blank firing incident outside the BJD office. We have lodged a case against Pujari and two of his party workers,” said former president of Sambalpur district congress committee Sureswar Mishra.

Mishra said: “The Biju Janata Dal is indulging in such activities to gain sympathy of the people in the by-election.”

“Two separate cases have been registered. Investigation is on and we will take suitable action once it is over,” said superintendent of police Nikhil Kanodia.