OAS officers condemn attack, seek stern action

The brutal assault on BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, a senior OAS officer, Monday, has not only drawn widespread condemnations but also raised serious concern over the safety of on-duty public officials.

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Immediately after the incident, the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association called for a statewide cease-work protest beginning July 1, and met CM Mohan Charan Majhi demanding stringent action against perpetrators. However, despite the CM's assurance for ensuring justice, arrest of five of the accused by Kharvel Nagar police and the association's decision to withhold the stir, OAS officers across Odisha went on cease-work stir Tuesday

Highly condemnable

Khurda ADM Pratap Chandra Beura said, “The incident of a senior OAS officer and Additional Commissioner, Ratnakar Sahoo, being assaulted inside the BMC office is highly condemnable. Such actions should be condemned by all sections of society. On Tuesday, OAS officers from the Khurda district association wore black badges in protest.”

Exemplary action should be taken

According to Bhadrak Sub-Collector Sourav Chakrabarty, the incident of a working OAS officer being attacked in a pre-planned and organised manner is highly condemnable. “Officers must be provided with safety and security at their workplaces. In addition, all those involved in this attack should be arrested, and exemplary action should be taken against them. Administrative officers, while sincerely performing their duties to serve the public, often become targets of anger or even physical assault,” Chakraborty said, adding the government must take necessary steps to find a permanent solution to such issues.

Ensuring security is essential

Gajapati ADM Falguni Majhi said the Gajapati OAS and ORS Association strongly condemns the incident of the attack on BMC Additional Commissioner. “OAS officers have no proper security arrangements while on duty. If this can happen to an OAS officer, it raises serious concerns about the safety of ordinary citizens. It is imperative to ensure the security of OAS officers,” Majhi said.

An unpardonable crime