Berhampur, Feb. 19: Biren Patnaik, a BJD councillor of ward No. 12 of the civic body, has been suspended from the next two council meetings for allegedly misbehaving with municipal commissioner Manoj Kumar Mahanty on Thursday.

The council meeting, which was being held in the conference hall of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation, also ended abruptly after mayor K. Madhvi announced the decision.

On January 25, Biren was slapped by another councillor, Mamina Padhi, at a council meeting of the corporation. Yesterday, he had criticised the civic commissioner for not taking any action against the Padhi for slapping him. Biren also alleged that Mahanty was not helping him carry out development work in his ward.

"I had requested Mahanty several times to help me carry out development works in my area. But, he deliberately chose to ignore my pleas," Biren said.

"I issued the suspension order after a majority of the councillors requested me to suspend Biren for his behaviour," said Madhvi.

Yesterday's council meet also took cognisance of the absence of former mayor and the BJP councillor Siba Shankar Das from last three consecutive council meetings.

According to legal provisions, if any councillor remains absent from three consecutive council meetings, his/ her post will be countermanded.