Guwahati: At least 22 people including seven police personnel were injured after a suspended MLA of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Prasant Kumar Jagdev allegedly rammed his car into a crowd at Khurda district of Odisha on Saturday.
The incident took place in the Banapur town of the district.
According to preliminary information, when the incident occurred, a large crowd, including BJP supporters, had assembled outside the Banapur Block Development Office (BDO) for the block chairperson election.
Jagdev, who was also seriously hurt in the incident, is currently receiving treatment.
No casualties were reported in the incident and an investigation is underway.
Jagdev was suspended from the ruling Biju Janata Dal for reportedly attacking a local BJP politician in October of last year. Jagdev also lost his position as chairperson of the Khurda district planning committee.
Meanwhile, Prithviraj Harishchandra, the BJP’s state general secretary has urged that the MLA be arrested immediately.
Reacting to the incident, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik, in a tweet said, “BJD MLA from Chilika Prashant Jagdev’s Lakhimpur Kheri moment! This is how BJD treats the common man of Odisha. I am at a loss of words to condemn such a deplorable, inhuman act.”