BJP goons assault a public servant in public in Bhubaneswar

New Delhi: Ratnakar Sahoo, the Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), was brutally assaulted during a public grievance hearing at the BMC office. 

The attack, allegedly orchestrated by supporters of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, was recorded on camera. 

The assault occurred around 11:30 AM when a group of six to seven individuals, reportedly linked to a defeated BJP MLA candidate and a current BJP corporator, forcibly entered the BMC office. 

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… pic.twitter.com/yf7M3dLt9C

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 30, 2025

They confronted Sahoo, who was engaged in his official duties, and proceeded to physically attack him. 

The video footage, which has been widely circulated, shows the officer being punched, kicked, and dragged out of his office in full view of other staff members and the public.

Naveen Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha and Leader of Opposition, expressed his shock and dismay in a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter). 

He stated, "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." 

Patnaik further accused the attackers of behaving like "criminals" and demanded exemplary action against not only the perpetrators but also the political leaders who allegedly conspired to orchestrate the attack.

The former Chief Minister specifically named Jagannath Pradhan, a BJP leader, as being implicated in the incident, citing Sahoo's First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the Kharavela Nagar Police Station.

Patnaik's post also highlighted the broader implications of the attack, questioning the state of law and order in Odisha under the current BJP government. He wrote, "If a senior officer is not safe in his own office, then what law and order will ordinary citizens expect from the Government?"

The assault has not only drawn sharp criticism from political opponents but has also mobilised the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) association, which has demanded stringent action against the culprits. Protests erupted in Bhubaneswar, with BJD corporators and BMC staff staging a road blockade on Janpath Road, demanding the immediate arrest of all involved, including the BJP corporator and other miscreants. 

The protest, which lasted over an hour, caused significant disruption to traffic and highlighted the depth of anger and frustration among public servants and citizens alike.

In response to the outcry, the Kharavela Nagar Police have detained three individuals identified as Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Mahapatra, and Debashis Pradhan.