Cop Accuses BJP Leader Of Assault, He Denies Charge, Says Police Misbehaved With Party Workers

The Dhanupali Police Station Inspector in-charge, Anita Pradhan alleged BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra of assaulting. He has denied the charge.

Odisha Leader of Opposition Jaynarayan Mishra

Source : ANI

New Delhi: A woman police officer has accused Odisha Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra of assaulting her after accusing her of taking bribes, during a BJP protest in the Sambalpur district on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. However, Mishra denied the charge and said that it was she who pushed him.

He said he went to the front after hearing that the police were 'torturing' women workers and added that a conspiracy was hatched. 

"But the IIC told me I was ranting a lot against the police and pushed me. But I didn't push her. Since allegations were levelled against the police, they hatched a conspiracy… I don't even know her," Mishra stated. 

“She (the woman police inspector) wasn't slapped. Police were misbehaving with women BJP members. When I went to the police to ask what was the matter, one of them hurt my foot. When I didn't cross the police barricade then how could've I pushed her? In fact, she pushed me,” Mishra told ANI. 

Both lodged police complaints in connection with the incident that took place during BJP’s protest outside the district collector's office in Sambalpur, as part of the state-wide stir on the "worsening law and order situation".

Pradhan told news agency PTI that the BJP workers were trying to barge into the premises when she came face-to-face with Mishra who asked her who she was. 

"When I identified myself, he accused me of taking bribes and called me a dacoit. When I asked why he was levelling such allegations, he pushed me in the face," the woman officer was quoted as saying.

Sambalpur Superintendent of Police B Gangadhar said that he has sought a field report of the incident and the matter will be inquired while the Odisha Police Service Association, Sambalpur chapter, has moved the DIG, Northern Range, seeking action against Mishra.

Following the incident, a verbal spat began between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Biju Janata Dal as the saffron party said that there was “no rule of law in Odisha” and BJD called Mishra a “habitual offender”.