Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Two FIRs Filed After BJD Leader’s Alleged Attack in Jajpur
Pranab Balabantray is a leader of Odisha’s BJD party.
He said armed people attacked him during a party march in Jajpur on October 4 and damaged vehicles.
Police have now registered two cases about what happened.
One followed Balabantray’s complaint, and the other followed a complaint from supporters of Independent MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo.
Those supporters accused Balabantray of disturbing peace.
Police say they are collecting videos and investigating both complaints.
The BJD has demanded action and raised concerns about Balabantray’s safety.
Sahoo has not commented in the reports, and the claims about who was responsible have not been established.
BJD leader Pranab Balabantray alleged that around 50 armed people attacked him during a Jan Sampark Padyatra in Jajpur on October 4.
Reports place the incident in Madhupurgada village or gram panchayat under Jenapur police limits; Balabantray said three vehicles were damaged, while a later report said his vehicle suffered major damage.
Police registered two FIRs: one following Balabantray’s complaint and another filed by Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo’s supporters, who accused Balabantray of disturbing peace.
The Jajpur SP said police were collecting CCTV and mobile-phone footage, identifying suspects and investigating both complaints; police were deployed at the site.
BJD leaders demanded action and protection for Balabantray, while Sahoo’s supporters held a separate protest; the allegations of responsibility remain disputed.
- Who
- BJD leader Pranab Balabantray and supporters of Independent MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo are connected to the two complaints; police are investigating.
- What
- Police registered two FIRs over an alleged attack during a BJD march and a counter-allegation that Balabantray disturbed peace.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred on October 4; police announced the two FIRs on October 5. The reports differ on whether it happened around 3 p.m. or at night.
- Where
- Gada Madhupur or Madhupurgada, under Jenapur police limits in Jajpur district, Odisha.
- Why
- The alleged motive has not been established. The BJD asked police to investigate whether the incident was politically motivated.
Balabantray and BJD’s allegations
Sahoo supporters’ counter-allegation
What happened during the march
Balabantray and BJD’s allegations
Balabantray alleged that around 40 to 50 armed people associated with the BJP and Sahoo’s supporters attacked him and other BJD leaders, damaging vehicles.
Sahoo supporters’ counter-allegation
Supporters of Sahoo filed a separate complaint accusing Balabantray of causing unrest or breaching peace in the locality.
Political responsibility
Balabantray and BJD’s allegations
The BJD asked police to examine whether the incident was politically motivated and called for action against those responsible.
Sahoo supporters’ counter-allegation
BJP district president Debajani Pradhan previously called Balabantray’s allegations false; Sahoo had not commented in the reports.
- BJD complainant
- Pranab Balabantray, a former Dharmasala MLA
- Event
- BJD’s Jan Sampark Padyatra
- Incident date
- October 4; the reports give differing descriptions of the time
- Police action
- Two FIRs were registered at Jenapur police station
- Second complaint
- Supporters of Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo accused Balabantray of breaching peace
- Investigation
- Police said they were collecting CCTV and mobile recordings to identify those involved
- Reported damage
- Balabantray alleged three vehicles were damaged; a later report said his vehicle suffered major damage
- Security
- The SP said four policemen would provide Balabantray round-the-clock security