WATCH: Odisha Govt Official Physically Assaults Sarpanch For Raising Concerns On Quality Of Work

Balangir: In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage across Odisha, a PWD Subdivisional Officer (SDO) allegedly thrashed a sarpanch in Balangir district on Tuesday over allegations of sub-standard developmental work.

The incident reportedly occurred in Harishankar village, where Sridhar Das, the SDO, was inspecting various projects undertaken under the state government’s flagship 5T initiative.

Sushil Guru, the sarpanch of Changaria panchayat, confronted the officer during the inspection and raised concerns about the poor quality of work being carried out in the area. This, according to reports, infuriated the SDO, who allegedly launched a physical assault on the sarpanch.

Fortunately, locals intervened and rescued Guru from the SDO’s attack. Upon receiving information about the incident, the police quickly reached the scene and detained the government official for questioning. A video capturing the altercation has since gone viral on various social media platforms, drawing attention to the incident and sparking public outcry.

The 5T initiative, championed by the Odisha government, emphasizes Transformation, Teamwork, Transparency, Timeliness, and Technology in governance.