Clash over party banner leaves BJP worker dead in Odisha’s Ganjam; 9 arrested, 20 CAPF companies to be deployed

Following the violence, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal ordered the deployment of 20 companies of Central

Armed Police Forces in Ganjam district for the smooth and peaceful conduct of elections to the eight Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat going to the polls on May 20.

Tensions ran high Thursday at Srikrushnasaranpur village, where the clashes, allegedly involving workers of the state’s ruling BJD, took place the previous night. Protesters gathered outside Khallikote police station, demanding the arrest of all the accused, and police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them.

Wednesday night’s violence was sparked when a group objected to the erection of party banners by another group. The clash resulted in injuries on both sides.

Though the injured were rushed to the Khallikote community health centre and later shifted to the MKCG Medical College in Berhampur, one of them, identified as Dilip Pahan, succumbed while undergoing treatment.

Sources said some of the injured were earlier associated with the BJD but recently switched over to the BJP expressing unhappiness over candidate selection for the Khallikote Assembly seat.

One of the injured was rushed to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar after his condition deteriorated.

BJP workers protested in front of the Khallikote police station demanding immediate arrest of the attackers. They also blocked roads disrupting traffic between Khallikote and Bhubaneswar.

The BJP’s Aska Lok Sabha candidate, Anita Subhadarshini, accused the police of not taking adequate measures to control violence in the region.

CEO Dhal said, “The Election Commission of India has made it clear that there will be zero tolerance towards violence during elections. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated in the election process.”

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also condemned the pre-poll violence in Ganjam.

“Deeply disturbed and saddened at the very unfortunate and tragic incident of violence in Khallikote area. Such incidents of violence have no place in our democracy and civil society. I strongly condemn this incident. My deepest condolence to the family who has lost their loved one and praying for early recovery of those who sustained injuries. I am sure police will take strong and exemplary action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” Patnaik wrote on X.