BJD MLA claims BJP men forced him to wear saffron outfit

Paradip (Odisha)), Feb 9: BJD MLA Pramod Kumar Mallick, against whom a case has been registered for allegedly ransacking a police station, today alleged that he was forced to wear saffron outfit by BJP supporters while he was on the way to attend Prime Minister's public meeting here on Sunday.

Mallick, who was under treatment at a hospital in Cuttack, claimed he was forced to walk wearing a saffron cap and uttariya (scarf) by the BJP supporters.

Mallick alleged that some BJP activists blocked his vehicle while he was on the way to Paradip to attend the meeting and was beaten up.

"However, my personal security officer (PSO) saved me," the MLA from Niali said. Following this, he and others went to Tirtol police station to lodge a complaint.

On the case against him, Mallick said he, along with a Zilla Parishad member, had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint of manhandling.

"At that time, there was none except one havildar at the police station. Suddenly, some people barged into the police station and ransacked it. The IIC deliberately registered a complaint against me with the help of some locals to save himself," he claimed.

The BJP, on the other hand, said Mallick was not forced to wear saffron attire. "He might have worn the saffron cap to please the Prime Minister," BJP state spokesman Sajan Sharma said.

"The ruling party leaders forgot manners and indulged in vandalism to foil the Prime Minister's meeting. Some of these leaders, including MLAs Debasis Samantaray, Pravat Biswal and Pramod Mallick, started blocking the road in the midnight of February 6," BJP state vice-president Prithiwiraj Harichandan alleged.

He claimed that the ruling party leaders also damaged more than 15 vehicles and attacked more than 50 people in an attempt to stop them from attending the meeting.

Meanwhile, both BJP and BJD lodged FIRs at Tirtol Police station.

While Mallick's PSO filed the complaint against BJP supporters, local BJP leader Ramakanta Bhoi in his complaint said BJD MLA Debasish Samantray attacked BJP supporters, Tirtol police station IIC Abhinav Dalua said.

PTI