TNI Bureau: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly condemned an attack on the residence of former Minister and party’s senior Vice-President, Pratap Jena, expressing serious concern over what it termed as a deteriorating law and order situation in the State.

According to the party, in Jena’s absence, some intoxicated anti-social youths created panic at his residence while raising slogans in the name of Banki MLA Debi Ranjan Tripathy. The miscreants reportedly threatened security personnel at gunpoint and abused them, leaving family members frightened.

Addressing a press conference at Shankha Bhavan, Biju Yuva Janata Dal President Chinmay Sahu accused Tripathy of instigating the incident to divert public attention from his betrayal of the party in the Rajya Sabha election. He termed the act as cowardly and highly condemnable.

Sahu further said that the incident reflects a pattern, drawing a parallel with Tripathy’s father Pravata Tripathy, who he claimed had similarly betrayed Biju Patnaik during the 1996 Rajya Sabha elections.

The BJD also questioned the State’s law and order situation, stating that the incident occurred close to the residence of the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio. The party warned that if the accused are not immediately arrested, the Biju Yuva Janata Dal would take action in the coming days.

Biju Chhatra Janata Dal President Ipsita Sahu alleged that Tripathy, after engaging in horse-trading, used money to incite anti-social elements to target Jena’s residence. She added that youth and student leaders across Odisha have been criticizing him on social media following the Rajya Sabha episode.

Reaffirming support for Naveen Patnaik, Ipsita Sahu said the youth and student community continue to stand with him and added that the people of Banki would give a befitting reply to Tripathy for his actions and statements invoking the Biju legacy.

In connection with the incident, two persons have been arrested. The accused were identified as Siddharth Swain and Devi Prasad Lenka, and have reportedly been forwarded to court. Sources said both were student leaders of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) and were suspended from the party over alleged anti-party activities.

The action followed a complaint lodged by Pratap Jena at the Capital Police Station after the late-night ruckus outside his residence.