1 week ago
BJD Alleges Minister’s Kin Joined Hooliganism; Minister Rejects Claims
The Biju Janata Dal accused people connected to a state minister of breaking the law.
It said some police officers were protecting them instead of treating everyone equally.
The claims came after police arrested a BJP youth leader during an incident involving rescued child labourers.
The BJD also mentioned allegations involving the minister’s relatives and another representative.
It said illegal sand and stone activity was also happening in the area.
The minister denied the political party’s accusations.
He said the law should apply to everyone.
The BJD warned that it could organize protests if the police did not act independently.
The BJD accused relatives and representatives of Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena of hooliganism and anti-social activities.
The allegations followed the arrest of BJP youth wing district president B Somanath Patra over an incident involving police during a child-labour rescue operation.
The BJD claimed police in Berhampur acted under Jena’s influence and used lenient sections against accused individuals.
It alleged cases involving Jena’s nephews and representative were mishandled, including an advocate assault, a student-suicide case and an Enforcement Directorate raid.
Jena rejected the allegations, saying the law should take its own course and that nobody was above the law.
- Who
- The Biju Janata Dal, Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, his alleged relatives and representatives, and Berhampur police.
- What
- The BJD alleged that people connected to Jena were involved in hooliganism, anti-social activities and possible illegal mineral extraction, while police allegedly failed to act independently.
- Where
- The allegations concern Berhampur, also referred to as Brahmapur, and Gopalpur in Odisha.
- When
- The allegations were made at a press conference on Sunday, a day after the arrest of BJP youth wing district president B Somanath Patra following a Friday-night incident.
- Why
- The BJD said police were acting under ministerial influence and warned of protests unless law-and-order enforcement became independent.
BJD’s Allegations
Minister’s Response
Police conduct
BJD’s Allegations
The BJD alleged that Berhampur police were acting under Bibhuti Bhusan Jena’s influence and applying relatively lenient legal sections to people connected to him.
Minister’s Response
Jena rejected the allegations and said the law should take its own course, with nobody above it.
Conduct of relatives and representatives
BJD’s Allegations
The BJD alleged that Jena’s relatives and representatives were repeatedly involved in hooliganism, attacks, anti-social activities and other law-and-order issues.
Minister’s Response
Jena did not accept the allegations; the article reports only his general statement that the law must take its own course.
Illegal mineral extraction
BJD’s Allegations
The BJD alleged large-scale illegal extraction and transportation of sand and stone in Jena’s constituency and across the district, causing revenue losses and increasing anti-social activity.
Minister’s Response
No specific response from Jena to the mineral-extraction allegation was reported.
Key facts
- Accusing party
- Biju Janata Dal (BJD)
- Minister named
- Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, Odisha’s Transport Minister
- Recent arrest
- BJP youth wing district president B Somanath Patra was arrested over alleged abuse and interference involving police personnel.
- Incident location
- Gopalpur, during the rescue of child labourers
- Additional allegations
- The BJD cited alleged attacks, alleged handling of a student-suicide case, and an Enforcement Directorate raid involving people linked to Jena.
- Mineral activity claim
- The BJD alleged illegal extraction and transportation of sand and stone were causing government revenue losses.
- Minister’s response
- Jena rejected the allegations and said the law must take its own course and apply to everyone.
Quotes
Bibhuti Bhusan Jena
Odisha Transport Minister who rejected the allegations
“The situation has reached such a stage that even when the minister’s representative and district BJP Yuva Morcha president allegedly attacked an inspector on duty, police arrested him by applying relatively lenient sections.”
thehansindia.com
“If the protector becomes the predator, to whom will the people turn for justice?”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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