The demand for action against former Kendrapara Superintendent of Police (SP) Satish Gajbhiye gained momentum with the BJP on Sunday announcing that the party will organise dharna in front of all police stations in the State on Monday seeking arrest of the top cop.
The issue was discussed at the political affairs committee (PAC) meeting of the BJP presided by chairman Bijoy Mohapatra. Announcing the decision to launch a Statewide agitation on the Sarathi Baba issue, State president of the party KV Singhdeo said FIRs will be lodged against Gajbhiye for police excesses on innocent people who were demanding arrest of the Baba.
Rejecting the Crime Branch probe ordered by the State Government into the Sarathi Baba controversy, Mohapatra said there should be a court-monitored probe into the incident.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Narasingh Mishra has also demanded immediate arrest of the former SP of Kendrapara. Alleging that a large number of BJD politicians including Ministers and MLAs had links with the self-styled Godman, Mishra said the Government is trying to protect the SP. Visuals in TV channels are sufficient to place the SP under suspension and start criminal prosecution against him, he said.
On the other hand, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) announced that the office of the district Collector at Kendrapara will be gheraoed on Monday demanding arrest of Gajbhiye. Besides, the party demanded that links of BJD politicians with Sarathi Baba should be brought under the purview of probe, OPCC chief spokesperson Ganeswar Behera said.
The State unit of BJP has also announced its support to the all-Odisha strike announced by Odisha Lawyers’ Association demanding suspension of the former SP and judicial probe into the Sarathi Baba controversy.
Prasanta Patnaik