Bhubaneswar, April 12: The Personal Security Officer (PSO) and the driver of Loisingha BJP MLA Mukesh Mahaling were admitted to hospital after two bike borne youths attacked them near Burda chhak on the Bolangir-Sambalpur NH 26 in Bolangir district on Tuesday.
Police have launched a manhunt to arrest the youths after Mahaling lodged a complaint with the Bolangir Superintendent of Police. Both the injured were admitted to Loisingha CHC. However, the MLA was unhurt.
The MLA said two bike-borne youths stopped his car near Burda chhak while he was returning from Badibahal after a program to his native village around 2 km away. When the PSO asked them why they stopped the car and told them to give way, the youths pulled him out of the car and attacked him. They also assaulted the driver and pelted stones at the vehicle. Mahaling said when he came out of the vehicle and asked the youths whether they knew him, they fled from the spot. Then he telephoned the SP and a Police officer reached the spot and inquired into the incident.
The BJP leader said he has no personal enmity with any one. However, political rivalry behind the attack cannot be ruled out, he said.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a tweet condemned the attack on the vehicle of Mahalinga in broad daylight. Pradhan said the incidents of attack at various places due to political vendetta indicated that the law and order situation in the state is slowly slipping away from the hands of the state government which is not good for the state. He asked how the common people can be safe where even the people’s representatives are insecure. Pradhan hoped that the Police administration will take strong action in the case.
