By Our Correspondent
KENDRAPARA/BHUBANESWAR: It seems, Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar and Aul Police Station IIC Shalil Pradhan alias Mantu Pradhan are buying time to arrest the key accused BJD district general secretary Pradmyuna Dash, who happens to be husband of BJD Aul Block chairman, Jharna Dash in the attack on Doctors at PHC in Aul in the intervening Wednesday night and Thursday mornings, sources said on Friday.
Sources said, Police so far arrested Jamal Khan (Aul Muslim Basti) and Rajendra Behera( Giribandha) but key accused Pradmyuna Dash, alias ‘Paddu Nana’ who is husband of BJD Block Chairman and was one of sitting Ruling Party MLA Pratap Keshari Deb’s right hand in Aul block, still absconding.
In fact Dash was a little known face in Aul but after sitting MLA Deb gifted his wife Jharna Dash with Block Chairman Post and BJD Kendrapara District General Secretary post to Paddu , things took ugly note with the BJD leader has been on Police radar since past 2 days. Considering Dash’s clout with local BJD MLA Pratap Deb, Aul Police as well as Kendrapara SP seems buying time and saying the accused are on run, sources said. Despite several attempts on Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar’s Cell Phone No-9438916260, contacts were not made with hm.
It may be noted that when the entire Naveen Patnaik administration had been put in action for smooth medical services in Odisha in the wake of COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, at Aul PHC in politically sensitive coastal pocket of Kendrapara, the home turf of ruling BJD’s Powerful MLA and Former Minister Pratap Keshari Deb, on Thursday had turned into a battle field after patients and their relatives including accused local BJD leaders Khan, Behera and Dash went on rampage attacking the attending doctors and ransacking the hospital.
The administration was so serious even the Chief Minister Patnaik himself putting his Sister Geeta Mehta’s return from the US but it seems, had no impact on doctors and patients and leaders in Aul-Rajkanika of Kendrapara. Every year funds are being release for reconstruction, restoration and repair of 2 PHCs but few selected Civil Contractors patronised by the Ruling Class have been regularly siphoned off these funds neglecting work. Hefty amount has been diverting for political expenditure and other work, sources added.
After the verbal and physical duels between doctors, patients and their relatives, medical services at Aul CHC n Kendrapara got paralysed as doctors resorted to cease work after a doctor who was on duty was thrashed by the local political leaders. The Aul CHC is just 1000 meters away from Aul Royal Palace, the residence of sitting BJD MLA and former Minister Deb and was always in news for bad infrastructure and lack of efficient doctors.
According to sources in Aul PHC, the incident occurred late on Wednesday night when four youths allegedly attacked the doctor and misbehaved with him.Tension gripped the hospital premises after the incident.
Extending support to the doctor and protesting the harassment doctors have to face, all the staffers of the hospital also halted their services. Apart from the Emergency ward, all other departments remained shut, reports suggested.Reportedly, a case regarding the same has been registered with Aul police. Following this, the doctor also went to visit the CDMO, sources added.
Deb is now representing the Assembly seat for 4th times and was a Minister in Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet in his 3rd term of MLA and represented the BJD in Rajya Sabha , soon after relinquishing his job as Chairman, Odisha State Housing Board but the fate of PHC in Aul and Rajkanika not seen any miracle and still waiting for help. “Apart from that, Deb is one among the spin doctors of Chief Minister Patnaik but medical services have no takers in Aul-Rajkanika, sources in Bhubaneswar said.
