42 People arrested so far in connection with Puri Violence

ONI Bureau: The Puri Police have arrested 42 people so far in connection with unprecedented violence during the Puri Bandh on October 3 over ‘Dhadi Darshan’ or ‘Queue System’. In total, 47 people have been identified from the CCTV footage.

5 police personnel, including 4 constables have been suspended for dereliction of duty on connection with attack on Minister Maheswar Mohanty’s residence.

Cases have been filed against senior servitors – Binayak Das Mohapatra, Damodar Mahasuar, Somanath Khuntia, Bhavani Das Mohapatra who were identified from the CCTV footage. The servitors have denied allegations of their involvement in the violence and demanded proper investigation.

While Samata Kranti Dal President Braja Kishore Tripathy has sought investigation into the Puri bandh violence, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra blamed the officials for the mess.