The alleged assault and manhandling of Chameli Ojha (33), Sarpanch of Tikhiri Gram Panchayat under the Mahakalapada block in the Kendrapara district, has snowballed into a major political controversy, with Opposition parties demanding action against police officials and local administrators.
The controversy erupted after Ojha was detained by police on Thursday following a dispute at the Block office. She alleged she was assaulted and humiliated by police and supporters of the local BJP MLA, while authorities maintained that action was taken following complaints of misconduct and obstruction of official work.
In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Ojha alleged that developmental works in her Panchayat were being affected as payments for completed projects were being withheld. She claimed that when she approached the Block Development Officer (BDO) seeking clearance of pending bills, she was abused and manhandled by some supporters of Mahakalapada MLA Durga Prasan Nayak.
Ojha further alleged that she was mistreated by police while being taken to the police station and said certain individuals tried to tarnish her image through a vilification campaign.
Condemning the incident, former Minister and former Mahakalapada MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak demanded action against the police personnel involved, alleging that the assault was carried out at the behest of local political leaders and officials.
A joint delegation of Congress, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and CPI(M) leaders met the Kendrapara Collector and sought action against police personnel, BDO, and others allegedly involved in the incident. They also visited Ojha at the district headquarters hospital, where she is undergoing treatment.
However, BJP leaders rejected the allegations. District BJP president Sasanka Sethi denied involvement of party supporters in the episode.
Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kataria also refuted the allegations of police excesses. According to the police, the BDO lodged an FIR alleging that Ojha and her brother abused him, obstructed official work and unlawfully recorded videos inside his office chamber. They claimed that the duo also misbehaved with and assaulted police personnel who arrived to investigate the complaint.
Based on the FIR, the police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), arrested Ojha’s brother and detained the Sarpanch. Police said Ojha later fell ill at the police station and was shifted to the district headquarters hospital for treatment.
The incident has sparked a wider debate over governance, political interference and the treatment of elected women representatives in Odisha’s Panchayati Raj institutions.