Bhadrak: Upset over the pace of probe into the Bhadrak hooch tragedy, a delegation of the BJP met the Collector and the SP seeking immediate arrest of an MLA and his associates.
The BJP leaders warned of launching a sit-in protest at Pirahat from May 14, if the police fail to take action against the guilty.
The saffron party delegation alleged that the Chandbali MLA and his supporters were responsible for the unfortunate incident that had taken place in Doulatpur and its nearby areas.
The BJP leaders including Lankeswar Mandal, Sashikant Biswal, Sangram Keshari Mohanty, Manas Ranjan Nayak, Kamalakant Nayak, Samarendra Barik and Umakant Mahakud submitted a memorandum to SP Rajesh Pandit.
In the memorandum, the BJP leaders asserted that on instruction from the Chandbali MLA over 10 people had distributed spurious liquor to voters in Pirahat and other areas April 29 in order to influence voting. After drinking the liquor, 10 people had died while over 100 people were admitted to the district headquarters hospital and some private hospitals. The tragedy had sent shockwaves across the state.
The party had then warned of an agitation in Pirahat April 30. The administration took about 72 hours to arrest the main accused.
“Ten days have passed since then, but the police administration has been sitting pretty and trying to harbour the accused,” the BJP leaders alleged.
“We have set May 13 as deadline for the administration to take exemplary action against the accused. Or else, we will launch a dharna at Pirahat from May 14,” fumed the party leaders.