Bhubaneswar: In the wake of rising cases of poll related violence, the state police Monday issued an advisory directing the police officers to take stringent action against the persons involved in violent activities sans their political affiliations. The officers have been asked to initiate speedy and time bound investigations into the cases of violence. The advisory issued by the state police asked the district superintendents of police (DSP) to personally monitor the progress in the probe into the matter.
The sleuths have been asked to rein in the anti-social elements with the help of the battalions Central Armed Police Force provided to their respective districts. It has further advised the sleuths to provide required security to the contesting candidates in case of any threat to their lives as instructed by the Election Commission.
The top officials of the district police have been asked to sensitise the mobile parties in order to check any untoward incident with their prompt intervention. It also stressed on flag marches in the sensitive areas with the help of CAPF forces to instill confidence in the voters mind. The officers have also been asked to intensify checking of vehicles including armed picketing with special emphasis on the two-wheelers. Notably, several bike-borne miscreants were found involved in recent incidents of bomb attacks.
The state Capital, Sunday, was rocked with incidents of bomb attacks on two MLA candidates of a constituency allegedly by their respective supporters. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate for Bhubaneswar (Central) sustained severe injuries while his opponent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Jagannath Pradhan barely escaped with minor injuries in two different cases of bomb attacks in the city Sunday night.
These are isolated incidents but the state has been witnessing a rise in cases of violence at several places ahead of the polls for the current general and Assembly elections. It can be safely concluded that the state is in the grip of severe political violence, similar to states like West Bengal, Kerala and Bihar. Apart from the three murders reportedly related to the political rivalries, reports of several incidents of heated face-ups and skirmishes also came to fore from across the state.
On the other hand, despite all the tall claims by the security forces, the Maoist attack took one life in the state while injuring several others. Similarly, at many places in the Maoist prone areas, people did not cast their votes out of the fear of the extremists during the first phase of the poll.
It seems the series of security meetings held at different layers, from ground to IG and DIG level, have failed to yield positive results in controlling violence during polls.
Some major incidents:
Two persons reportedly related to the BJP were killed on the same fateful night in Ganjam ahead of the second phase of the poll April 18.
Santosh Pati, 28, a saffron party worker from Kadalijhola village under Sorada Police station limits was beaten to death by around 12 persons allegedly from the ruling BJD April 17.
Similarly, some miscreants allegedly related to the BJD hurled bombs at a BJP worker Sadananda Pradhan Agajhola village under Bhanjanagar police station limits. Later, some villagers spotted his body lying near his village.
Meanwhile, some unknown bike-borne miscreants shot dead a BJP party worker, Manguli Jena, near the residence of party’s MLA candidate, Kalu Khandayata’s residence at Navinbag area under Khurda Model police station limits April 14. The state also witnessed Maoist ambush in which a lady poll official, Sanjukta Diggal, was killed at Balandapada under Gochapada police station limits in Kandhamal April 17.
Earlier, just few hours before the murderous attack, the Maoists torched a vehicle carrying polling officials in Phiringia area on Kandhamal.
The Capital city has also witnessed several incidents of pre-poll violence in recent days. The supporters of rival political parties engaged in series of violence in city— either throwing bombs and stones at each other or attacking them physically with sticks and iron rods. According to reports, four persons, reportedly aides of a BJP MLA candidate, threw bombs at the office of the district president of ruling BJD party at Chintamaniswar area in retaliation to an earlier attack on a local BJP office in Ward no. 48 April 17.
Workers of political parties also attacked various rights activists during the period.