Bhubaneswar: High tension unfolded at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office on Monday when a senior bureaucrat was violently assaulted by a group of men. The incident, which was caught on video, has triggered widespread outrage across Odisha.
Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner of BMC and a senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, was dragged out of his office and beaten in full public view. The attackers kicked and punched him repeatedly, even targeting his face. The attack reportedly took place in front of a BJP corporator.
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and arrested three people so far in connection with the assault.
The brutal incident sparked immediate protests. BMC employees staged a sit-in inside the office premises, demanding strict punishment for the culprits. The Odisha Administrative Service Association has announced a mass leave starting July 1 in protest.
Political reactions have poured in. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the attack and demanded exemplary punishment. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote,
“Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, a senior officer, was dragged and assaulted in broad daylight while hearing public grievances. This shameful act happened in front of a BJP corporator allegedly linked to a defeated BJP MLA candidate.”
Members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also held a protest rally in Bhubaneswar, calling for immediate action.
The shocking incident has raised serious questions about the safety of public officials and the growing political tension in the state. Investigations are ongoing.
