Bhubaneswar, Jul 1: The shocking assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo has taken a dramatic turn, with fresh allegations pointing to a politically motivated conspiracy involving a local corporator.

According to sources, the incident stemmed from a dispute involving a sanitation worker allegedly targeted for termination. It is claimed that a BJD corporator orchestrated a plot through officials to remove the worker from service.

Additional Commissioner Sahoo reportedly told the worker that the only way to retain the job was to “compromise” with the corporator’s husband — a claim that has sparked outrage.

The situation escalated on Monday during a public grievance hearing at the BMC office when some people, alleged to be supporters and workers of a local BJP leader, entered his chamber and grabbed him by the collar.

The incident has triggered widespread condemnation and protests by BMC staff and administrative associations. Three individuals, reportedly affiliated with the BJP Yuva Morcha, have been arrested in connection with the incident. Further investigation into the incident is underway.

Taking note of the reports, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra condemned the assault and described the incident as deeply distressing. He emphasised that no leniency will be shown to those guilty, regardless of their political affiliation.

Minister Mahapatra assured that a thorough investigation is underway and all facts will be made public in due course. "No compromise will be made during the inquiry," he stated.

The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association, later in the evening, temporarily postponed its planned mass leave protest in response to the incident. The decision came after a late-night meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who assured the association of strict legal action against all individuals involved in the attack.

The Chief Minister, along with senior officials including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, met with OAS representatives and appealed for restraint while promising justice. The OAS Association clarified that the protest has not been cancelled but merely deferred.

BMC Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Patil, on Tuesday, called the incident “unprecedented and deeply disturbing,” adding that it has demoralized officers and staff.

“We are reviewing the incident to determine why surveillance systems, including the CCTV, failed at such a critical moment,” he said. Patil also assured that future security protocols and camera functionality would be strengthened to prevent such breaches.

The civic body, which operates under the Smart City framework, sees hundreds of visitors daily. The attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of government officials and the integrity of public institutions.

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