Odisha: 22 injured after BJD MLA rams SUV into BJP procession
Jagdev, who was also suspended from BJD last year for beating a Dalit BJP leader, allegedly sped his SUV towards the procession
New Delhi: At least 22 people were injured after a re-run of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident repeated itself in Odisha’s capital.
Prashant Jagdev, BJD MLA from Chilika, allegedly rammed his car into the crowd in Odisha’s Khurda district on Saturday.
22 persons including police personnel were injured as Jagdev’s vehicle ran over them during a procession of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers.
“Around 15 BJP workers and seven police personnel were injured. A probe has been initiated into the matter,” a senior police officer said.
Police officials said, “Nearly 200 BJP workers were taking out a procession outside the office of Banpur panchayat Samiti near Chilika lake for the election of the panchayat Samiti chairperson when MLA Prashant Jagdev’s SUV reached there”.
Jagdev, who was also suspended from BJD last year for beating a Dalit BJP leader, allegedly sped his SUV towards the procession with an intention to hurt people.
Later, the MLA was brutally beaten by the crowd present there as they demanded his immediate arrest.
Demanding the arrest of Jagdev, BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said, “He is a perpetual offender and has been using strong-arm tactics as he was with the BJD”.
Meanwhile, Jitu Mitra, BJD MLA from Khurda, defended Jagdev saying, “BJP workers should not have stopped his vehicle. He tried to steer his vehicle out of the crowd when the incident happened. It could be a case of an accident.”