Bhubaneswar, July 16: The students’ wing of Odisha Congress today staged a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar demanding action against Governor Raghubar Das’s son Lalit Kumar for allegedly assaulting ASO Baikuntha Pradhan in Puri.
They also questioned as to why action has not been taken against the Governor’s son and demanded a thorough probe by the state government.
Notably, the Odisha government on Monday transferred and posted ASO Baikuntha Pradhan from Raj Bhawan to Secretariat.
As per the allegation, the alleged assault took place when Pradhan was deployed at Raj Bhavan in Puri during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit for Rath Yatra on July 7.
Pradhan had alleged assault by Governor’s son Lalit Kumar and his six other friends on the night of July 7. The incident took place on the Raj Bhavan premises in Puri, where he was deployed to supervise the preparation for President Droupadi Murmu’s visit. He had accused them of ‘slapping, blowing punches on his face, kicking every part of his body, and twisting his left ankle’.
As per the complaint registered at Sea Beach Police Station in Puri, Kumar was upset with Pradhan for not sending luxury cars to receive him at the Puri railway station. During the assault, he also asked Pradhan to lick his shoes and kept threatening him.
On July 12, Governor took cognizance of the incident and assured justice for the victim and his family.
