Odisha: OAS officers on 'mass leave' to protest assault of senior colleague

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Administrative Service Association on Monday said its members will go on a “mass leave” from Tuesday to protest against the alleged assault of a senior OAS officer.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the association chaired by its president Jyoti Ranjan Mishra here.

OAS officer and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo was allegedly dragged from his office and assaulted by a group of miscreants on Monday, police said.

In a letter to district associations, the apex body said: “This is to formally inform you that the Odisha Administrative Service Association has unanimously resolved to proceed on a mass leave with effect from 1st July, 2025 in protest against the appalling and deplorable attack on the Additional Commissioner BMC, which occurred in broad daylight within official premises.”

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the assault, police said.

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.

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