Bhubaneswar Civic Body Official Assaulted: Tensions flared in Odisha on Monday after an additional commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) was allegedly attacked inside his office. The video of the incident is going viral on social media with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi condemning the incident and assuring strict action against the culprits and perpetrators behind the scenes, regardless of their power.

The Chief Minister also met the members of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) association late on Monday night after the BMC employees staged a sit-in protest, demanding security and declaring a work boycott. Following the Chief Minister’s appeal, the members of the association postponed the mass leave.

Naveen Patnaik Expresses Shock

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his deep shock at the incident and condemned the brutal assault on the Additional Commissioner.

Patnaik called on Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to act swiftly, asserting, “I am utterly shocked seeing this video. Today, Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, OAS Additional Commissioner, BMC, a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary, was dragged from his office and brutally kicked and assaulted in front of a BJP Corporator, allegedly linked to a defeated BJP MLA Candidate.”

He further asked Chief Minister Manjhi to take “immediate and exemplary action” against not only those who perpetrated but more importantly, the political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this shameful attack.

“The people named by the officer in his FIR have behaved like criminals. If a senior officer is not safe in his own office, then what law and order will ordinary citizens expect from the government,” he added.

Bhubaneswar Civic Body Official Assaulted

In a video going viral on social media, a group of young men physically assaulted Additional Commissioner of BMC, Ratnakar Sahu, and forcefully dragged him out of his office.

The attack was allegedly carried out over claims that Sahu had misbehaved with senior BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, who was a candidate in the 2024 elections.

Narrating the incident, Sahu said: “Around 4–5 men, accompanied by Corporator Jeevan Raut, came and asked me whether I had misbehaved with Jagannath Pradhan. I denied the allegation. But they started abusing me, dragging me out of my chamber, and assaulting me. They even tried to forcibly push me into their vehicle to take me away.”