A SENIOR BJP LEADER WAS SHOT AT

A SENIOR BJP LEADER WAS SHOT AT 19/12/2011
ODISHA NEWS :-

A senior BJP leader was shot at by unidentified assailants in Sambalpur district. The former BJP district president, Seema Khatei, was attacked at Chepti Pulia near Remed while he was on his way to Hirakud from here.


The assailants fired at Khatei while he was returning to Hirakud from Sambalpur. Three goons were allegedly waiting for him near Chepti Pulia. When Khatei’s vehicle approached the bridge, they allegedly came in front of it and fired at him.
Khatei, who was sitting on the front seat of the vehicle, sustained bullet injury.


The culprits, who were wearing monkey caps, fled from the spot immediately after firing at him. Khatei’s driver took the vehicle straight to Hirakud police station.
He sustained bullet injuries in his abdomen and was immediately admitted to VSS Medical College and Hospital. Glass of his SUV that shattered due to the firing have also pierced his body. His condition, however, is stable, according to hospital sources.


Police have started a manhunt. “Preliminary probe has revealed that there were three persons who came in motorcycle and waited on the way. They fled after firing at the saffron leader,” IIC of Hirakud police station Subash Chandra Sahu said. SP (Sambalpur) Nikhil Kanodia visited the spot. Reacting sharply to the incident, the BJP has accused the police of growing criminal activities in the district.


“The law and order situation in Sambalpur has worsened. Shootouts have become very frequent here. We have demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. The Sambalpur police superintendent has assured that the culprits will be apprehended soon,” said state BJP secretary Govind Agrawala.

On September 20, another firing incident had taken place at Hirakud, in which two persons had been severely injured. Another person was also killed with a sharp weapon in that incident.

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA