Jagatsinghpur: Eggs were allegedly hurled at Rajya Sabha MP and Ollywood actor Anubhav Mohanty’s vehicle while he was on his way to attend ‘Ravana Podi Utsav’ at Erasama in Jagatsinghpur district Saturday.
The incident took place when Mohanty, Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Balikuda-Erasama MLA Prasant Muduli were being taken on a cavalcade to the ceremony spot.
Some miscreants reportedly hurled two eggs on their vehicle. Police reportedly resorted to mild lathicharge to take the situation under control and have detained two persons in this connection.
The matter came to light when Mohanty mentioned about the incident while addressing the gathering. “It would have been wise to feed the eggs to a child instead of throwing those at our vehicle,” Anubhav said.
On the other hand, some miscreants have also punctured several vehicles of people who had come to the venue to attend the event and see Anubhav.
While nothing was known about the miscreants, it was suspected they were supporters of Dama Rout. When contacted, police said that an investigation into the matter is underway.
It may be noted here that tension has been prevailing at Erasama since the administration vandalised the stage of Dama Rout and gave permission to MLA Prasant Muduli to conduct the ‘Ravana Podi’ event this year.
Earlier Saturday, supporters of expelled BJD leader Dama Rout had called for a 24-hour market bandh in Erasama town protesting cancellation of Dama Rout’s ‘Ravana Podi’ event by the administration.
Rout, who had been holding the Ravan Podi Utsav in Erasama for 35 years was left fuming after the administration permitted MLA Prashant Muduli to hold the event this year.
Even after Prashant become the MLA of Balikuda-Ersama, it was Dama who continued organising the event every year. He had been doing it for the last 35 years. However, this year the administration gave permission to Muduli to hold the event, in the presence of police force.
Unaware of the administration’s direction, Dama’s supporters had prepared the pandal for the event at the Anchalika Yuva Parishad ground. Later, the administration had to pull it down, stoking the already tense political atmosphere in Jagatsinghpur.
In its reaction to the permission to Prashant, the administration clarified that Prashant has been given permission as he was the first applicant for holding the event.
This did not go well with Dama’s supporters who called for the bandh protesting dismantling of the stage erected for Ravana Podi which was supposed to be attended by Rout.
The supporters of Dama said the district administration was favouring Muduli and declined to give permission to Rout to organise ‘Ravana Podi’ function and dismantled the stage in presence of police.
PNN