OAS Association Slams Attack on BMC Official, Declares Statewide Protest from July 1
Bhubaneswar, June 30 (OT Webdesk)– A shocking incident at the heart of Odisha’s administrative capital has triggered a fierce backlash from the state’s bureaucracy. On Monday, Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), was brutally assaulted during a public grievance redressal meeting inside the BMC premises.
The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association swiftly condemned the attack, calling it a “barbaric” act and a direct assault on the dignity of public service and rule of law. Describing the incident as unprecedented, OAS President Jyoti Ranjan Mishra announced a statewide mass leave protest starting Tuesday, July 1, demanding justice and adequate safety for officers.
“We are deeply disturbed. Such an incident in the capital city shakes the very foundation of civilised governance,” Mishra said, while warning that the protest could expand if the government fails to act decisively.
General Secretary Bijaya Kumar Swain echoed the sentiment, expressing concern for Sahoo’s well-being and underscoring his stellar service record. “He is extremely traumatised. We’re urging all district-level officers to join the mass leave in solidarity,” Swain added.
Later in the day, OAS and IAS Association members met Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and DGP YB Khurania, emphasizing that political encouragement may be emboldening such attacks. A joint statement from both associations urged exemplary punishment for the culprits to deter future assaults.
The police have arrested three individuals—Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Mahapatra, and Debashis Pradhan—in connection with the attack. An FIR has been filed at Kharvelnagar Police Station, and CCTV footage is being analyzed to identify other assailants.
The incident has reignited debates around the safety of public servants in Odisha, with the OAS Association warning that unchecked violence could erode governance and embolden lawlessness.
As the investigation continues, attention now shifts to how Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s government responds to the administrative community’s call for action—an early test of the state’s commitment to law and order.
