During a public grievance meeting on Monday, Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo was violently attacked by a group of young men inside the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office. In full public view, the men punched, kicked, slapped, and hurled abuse at the senior officer. A video of the shocking incident has gone viral, showing Sahoo being manhandled, dragged by his collar, and forcibly pulled out of the building.

As per initial reports, six young men suddenly stormed into Ratnakar Sahoo’s chamber while he was listening to public complaints and launched a violent attack without any warning. Staff members and visitors were left shocked as the group brutally assaulted the officer. The motive behind the attack is still unclear, and the attackers have not yet been identified.

Speaking to the media after the incident, Ratnakar Sahoo said, "The attackers are strangers to me. I will report this to the higher authorities, and an FIR will be lodged soon."

Later, while explaining what happened, the Deputy Commissioner added, "Grievance was ongoing, as it was Monday. I was taking a review as the commissioner was absent. A corporator, Jivan Babu, and some five to six members came to me. Then Jivan Babu started asking, Have you misbehaved with Jaga Bhai? Then I said no, I have not done any misbehaviour. After this, they started manhandling me and tried to escort me into a car. I don't know the exact cause of the assault. I don't know the others who have attacked me."

BMC Staff protest and demand strict action

Soon after the assault, angry BMC employees staged a sit-in protest inside the office. They stopped working for the rest of the day, demanding that the attackers be arrested immediately. The staff also asked for better security arrangements for all civic officials, saying they now feel unsafe even inside their own office.

Senior officials from BMC and the Commissionerate Police arrived at the spot and assured a full investigation. An FIR is expected to be filed soon, and police are checking CCTV footage to identify the attackers.

Former CM Naveen Patnaik slams government over law and order

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reacted strongly after watching the viral video of the assault. He said he was deeply shocked by the incident and blamed the poor law and order situation in the state.

"I am utterly shocked seeing this video. Today, Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, OAS Additional Commissioner, BMC, a senior officer of the rank of additional secretary, was dragged from his office and brutally kicked and assaulted in front of a BJP corporator, allegedly linked to a defeated BJP MLA candidate," Patnaik wrote on X.

He further added, "I ask @MohanMOdisha Ji to take immediate and exemplary action against not only those who perpetrated but more importantly the political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this shameful attack. The people named by the officer in his FIR have behaved like criminals. If a senior officer is not safe in his own office, then what law and order will ordinary citizens expect from the government?"

Patnaik ended his statement by saying that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi must ensure strict punishment, or else the "people of Odisha will not forgive this."

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