TNI Bureau: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das on Saturday alleged that Tikhiri Sarpanch Chameli Ojha’s life could be at risk and demanded immediate advanced medical treatment for her, claiming that she has been subjected to harassment and physical abuse following police action against her.

Tikhiri Sarpanch Chameli Ojha who was sent to judicial custody after a court rejected her bail plea in connection with allegations of misbehaving with officials and assaulting police personnel during a dispute at the Mahakalapada block office in Kendrapada district, had to be re-admitted to the Hospital after her condition deteriorated. She was seen being treated on the floor of Kendrapada DHH without a proper bed.

Bhakta Das, along with a team of senior Congress leaders, visited the District Headquarters Hospital in Kendrapada to inquire about Chameli’s health condition. Speaking to reporters after meeting her, he expressed concern over her deteriorating health and questioned the circumstances under which she was sent back to jail despite reportedly being unwell.

According to Bhakta, Ojha was undergoing treatment at the hospital and was on saline support when authorities allegedly removed the saline and hurriedly shifted her back to jail. He also claimed that blood stains were visible on her body. He said that although she had earlier been taken to jail, the jail authorities reportedly sent her back to the hospital for treatment as her condition was not suitable for incarceration.

The PCC President alleged that there may be a conspiracy behind the case and questioned the imposition of non-bailable charges against Chameli. Referring to available videos of the incident, he claimed there was no evidence suggesting that she had threatened anyone’s life. He also raised concerns over what he described as repeated harassment of elected representatives, particularly women representatives.

Demanding immediate intervention by the state government, Bhakta Das urged that Chameli be shifted to a higher medical facility, preferably AIIMS Bhubaneswar or another advanced hospital, for proper treatment. He said Congress would continue its fight if justice was not ensured for her.

In a separate statement, PCC treasurer Siddharth Dash said Ojha’s condition was serious and required better medical care. He further alleged that Mahakalapada MLA Durga Prasanna Nayak was linked to the controversy and claimed that pressure was being exerted on the sarpanch over a corruption-related issue.

The Congress delegation included former minister Panchanan Kanungo, former MP Nagendra Pradhan, Seva Dal president Subhendu Mohanty, senior Congress leader and advocate Shibananda Ray, PCC spokesperson Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra, and former Students’ Congress president Milan Pattnaik, among others.