Brutal attack on BMC Additional Commissioner: Senior Odisha BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan arrested after surrendering

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Bhubaneswar: Senior Odisha BJP leader and the State Executive Member Jagannath Pradhan was arrested for his alleged involvement in the brutal attack on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.

Jagannath Pradhan was arrested after he surrendered himself at the office of Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). Police had tightened security arrangement to avoid any untoward incident as hundreds of Pradhan’s supporters had gathered at the spot.

DCP Jagmohan Meena informed that Pradhan was arrested, taken for medical examination and subsequently forwarded to the court after he surrendered himself.

It is to be noted here that Jagannath Pradhan reached the Bhubaneswar DCP office saying he went there to co-operate in investigation. “I have publicly condemned the attack on the Additional Commissioner of BMC on 30.06.2025. Such a despicable incident is unacceptable and should not happen again. Even though I am not involved in this incident, a planned attempt was made from various angles to defame me, my party and the government. OAS Association has also fallen victim to this plan and is protesting demanding my arrest,” he said while speaking to the newsmen .

“As a result of this protest, the services and assessment of damages in the flood affected area and compensation for the people in the state may be affected, and the Bahuda Yatra and the Sunabesha of Mahaprabhu may also be hampered,” he added.

Pradhan further said, “If my arrest solves all these problems, then for the sake of the honour of the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Manmohan Samal and the Odisha Government under the leadership of Mohan Charan Majhi and for the greater good of Odisha and the people of Odisha, I am going to cooperate in the investigation of the said incident.”

The BJP leader was arrested as the Odisha Administrative Services (OAS) Association has been demanding his arrest. Earlier yesterday it had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi via Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja seeking his arrest.

In their memorandum, the OAS had placed three non-negotiable demands that include immediate arrest of prime accused Jagannath Pradhan, security for all field officers (Tahsildars, BDOs, EOs) and government’s public condemnation and assurance to protect officers.

Prior to his arrest today, Jagannath Pradhan on his X handle had yesterday stated that following the incident at the BMC office, the general administration of the State has been disrupted and a law and order situation has risen. In view of this and for the wellbeing of our government, I respect the law and will cooperate with any action taken against me as per the law.

With Jagannath Pradhan’s arrest, the number of arrested persons in the tragic incident has risen to six. Earlier, Sanjeev Mishra, Sachikant Swain, Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Mahapatra and Debashis Pradhan were arrested for thrashing, kicking, abusing and attempting to abduct the BMC Additional Commissioner.

Also Read: Odisha BJP Leader Jagannath Pradhan’s Supporters Block Roads In Bhubaneswar

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