Former BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra arrested in Sambalpur

Tension prevailed in Odisha’s Sambalpur town, as former BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra was arrested by the police for displaying ‘sword’ at the Hanuman Jayanti procession yesterday. As per the rules, displaying weapons was prohibited during Hanuman Jayanti procession, but Mr. Mishra defied it, saying religious traditions cannot be gagged.

In the video, Mishra was seen threatening the cops with swords when confronted. He allegedly pushed around a police officer, it has been reported.

Jayanarayn Mishra was picked up by the police near the BJP office in Sambalpur. He was later forwarded to the court. Supporters of Jayanarayan Mishra clashed with the police inside the court premises. But, the situation is said to be under control. Heavy police deployment has been made in the town to prevent any untoward incident.

Jayanarayan Mishra was elected to Odisha Assembly from Sambalpur in 2000, 2004 and then in 2009. However, he lost the 2014 polls to Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi, who entered politics on a BJD ticket.

Meanwhile, a sub-divisional judicial magistrate’s court in Sambalpur district remanded Mishra to judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected. The BJP has decided to raise the issue and hit the streets in protest against Mishra’s arrest.