A shocking incident occurred at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters where Ratnakar Sahoo, an Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Additional Commissioner, was violently attacked. The assault took place during a public grievance hearing at the BMC office.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage show a group of men dragging Sahoo from his office, repeatedly hitting him, and kicking him, including in the face. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from officials and political parties across Odisha.
According to reports, the attackers confronted Sahoo about claims that he had misbehaved with Jag Bhai, a BJP leader. Sahoo alleges that the men, including a BMC corporator, barged into his office, grabbed him by the collar, and assaulted him when he denied the allegations. He further claimed that the attackers attempted to abduct him.
Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the attack: Jeevan Rout, a BJP corporator from ward-29, Rashmi Mahapatra, and Debashis Pradhan. An FIR has been filed at Kharvelnagar Police Station under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including trespass, assault, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify any additional culprits.
The assault has triggered strong reactions from political figures. Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed shock and called for immediate action against those responsible, including any political leaders who may have orchestrated the attack. He highlighted the brazen nature of the attack, questioning the safety of public servants and ordinary citizens if such incidents can occur in broad daylight in the heart of the capital.
BJD leaders and BMC employees staged protests, leading to road blockades and traffic disruptions in Bhubaneswar. The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association has strongly condemned the attack, labeling it as "barbaric" and a direct assault on the state's governance. The association has announced that all OAS officers will go on mass leave starting July 1, 2025, to protest the incident and demand stringent action against the perpetrators. The IAS and OAS Associations issued a joint statement condemning the assault as a threat to the rule of law and raising concerns about possible political patronage behind the attack.
The incident has ignited debates about the safety and security of public servants in Odisha. There are increasing calls for stronger measures to protect officers while performing their duties and to ensure that such attacks do not erode governance and foster anarchy.
