OAS officers threaten escalation if BJP leader not arrested in BMC attack case

Bhubaneswar, July 3: The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association has issued a three-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding the immediate arrest of BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, who has been named as the prime accused in the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.

Addressing the media after a meeting, OAS Association President Jyoti Ranjan Mishra stated that the association will continue its agitation until firm and decisive action is taken. He emphasized that while OAS officers will continue their duties in flood-affected areas and during the ongoing Rath Yatra, the association expects prompt government intervention.

Mishra further added that although the Chief Minister has acted swiftly in arresting some individuals, the main accused must also be brought to justice without delay. “The investigation should not stretch for months—it must be completed within three days,” he said. The association has made three specific demands: the immediate arrest of Jagannath Pradhan, enhanced safety and security for all officers, and a strong public condemnation of the incident by the state government.

The assault reportedly took place during a grievance redressal meeting at the BMC office, where a group of miscreants allegedly attacked Sahoo. Condemning the incident, the OAS Association unanimously passed a resolution seeking strict punishment for the culprits and urged the state to implement better workplace security for government officers. So far, Commissionerate Police have arrested five individuals, and the investigation is ongoing.