Odisha MP Seeks Action Against Baliapal BDO

Bhubaneswar: Union MSME Minister Pratap Sarangi on Thursday demanded exemplary action against Chhabirani Sahu, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Baliapal Block in Odisha’s Balasore district, for allegedly abusing some Surat returnees.

“I saw the video last night after a meeting with the Prime Minister. I immediately tried to contact the district collector but failed. Later, I sent a tweet to the collector tagging the Chief Minister. I will write a letter to the collector in this regard. The behaviour of the BDO is unacceptable. How can a government officer go beyond the official decorum and address the migrant workers as bonded labourers?” he questioned while speaking to media.

He said the officers should realize the trauma these migrants are undergoing amid the nationwide lockdown.

“I hope that the state government will take cognizance to this incident and initiate exemplary disciplinary action and order for her immediate transfer from Balasore,” Sarangi told the media here.

Terming the incident a serious crime against humanity, the BJP leader said these officers, who are enjoying the power and authority with the tax paid by the poor, have no right to insult them in public in the time of their distress.

Notably, Balasore Collector K Sudarshan Chakraborty had ordered for a departmental probe into the incident after the video surfaced on Wednesday.