NCP MLA injured in attack

DHENKANAL: The repolling at Nihalprasad village in Gondia block was marred by violence on Monday.  Some BJD supporters allegedly attacked Dhenkanal Sadar NCP MLA Nabin Nanda, his son and one of his personal security officers (PSO) during a visit to the village. Nanda and his PSO Basant Nayak were injured and his vehicle was damaged. The MLA was on his way to the village after malpractices were reported during the repolling.Sources said repolling was conducted at booths 1 and 4 at Nihalprasad after rigging was alleged in the final phase of election on Sunday. A group of BJD supporters allegedly attacked his vehicle following which one of his PSOs opened blank fire while Nayak took Nanda to safety. Nanda rushed to Nihalprasad police station and lodged FIR. Nanda’s vehicle was damaged even as he was in the police station. The MLA stayed back in the police station for about four hours. Later, when he was rescued, the MLA found important documents including the gun licence missing. A group of supporters of Nanda took to the streets and blocked road at Pingua. They demanded escorting the MLA out of Nihalprasad. SDPO Brahmananda Dandapat rushed to the spot from Kapilas. The mob lobbed petrol bombs at the SDPO vehicle in which two of the six constables were injured. They were rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Cuttack.The SDPO said the fight was between BJD and NCP supporters who attacked each other.Dhenkanal SP Satish Gajbhiye said police will lodge cases against Nanda under criminal conspiracy charges as he was fuelling violence in election. Nanda, on the other hand, lodged an FIR against two persons  for attacking him.