Sambalpur: Fresh political violence in Sohela has left two BJP leaders injured. The two had gone to meet former minister and senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra lodged at Sohela sub-jail in Bargarh district. Mishra is in jail for his alleged involvement in a violent incident that killed a BJD worker in the run up to the Bijepur bypoll.
State BJP Yuva Morcha secretary Irasis Acharya and state BJP secretary Ranjan Patel were attacked by a group of armed people near the jail on Saturday afternoon. Both the injured were admitted to Bargarh district headquarters hospital for treatment. Acharya, who has four stitches on his head, was shifted to Bhubaneswar for treatment.
The incident took place when the two leaders were having tea near the jail premises after meeting Mishra. Tension prevails in Bargarh and Sohela areas following the attack on the BJP leaders.
Superintendent of police, Bargarh, K. Mukesh Bhamo told The Telegraph over phone that two cases had been filed in connection with the attack and investigation was on.
Additional superintendent of police, Bargarh, Yashwant Senapati said: "Four persons arrested in this connection have no political link .The clash is the outcome of sudden provocation."
A group of BJP supporters, led by the party vice-president Sawini Sarangi, on Sunday staged dharna in front of Bhamo's office demanding arrest of labour minister Sushant Singh. They alleged that Singh was instrumental in the attack.
In the pre-poll violence, the brother of the labour minister and his driver were attacked allegedly by BJP workers on February 22 near Sohela. The driver succumbed to injuries at the SCB medical college hospital at Cuttack.
BJP Kuchinda MLA Rabi Naik, however, said Singh was behind the attack on the BJP leaders. He said Singh had been threatening BJP leaders won the Bijepur by-election. Singh refuted the allegation and said he had no hand in any attack. He said the attack was the outcome of BJP infighting within the BJP. "Culprits will be arrested and the truth will come out," he said.
