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Bhubaneswar, Nov 5 (IANS) Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and party’s star campaigner for the upcoming Nuapada by-election, Preeti Ranjan Gharai, has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding an immediate and impartial investigation by a neutral agency into the recent alleged illegal raid by the local police at his rented residence on Khariar Road in Nuapada district.
The former minister, in his letter, which was made public on Wednesday, urged the Election Commission to take strict action against “those violating the law” ahead of the Nuapada by-election to be held on November 11.
Gharai alleged, “On October 31, when I was engaged in election campaign in Mota Nuapada Gram Panchayat under Nuapada block and was absent from the residence, at about 13.22 hrs, a group of police personnel illegally entered my private rented residence at Khariar Road without any search warrant, authorization or order of the competent authority for inspection.”
The senior BJD leader further said that although the house caretaker informed the police personnel about his absence and said he would return shortly for lunch, the police personnel forcibly entered his residence.
He accused the police officers of damaging and destroying household items, campaign material and other personal belongings during the illegal infiltration, causing great harm and mental harassment to him.
“The above action of the police personnel is a gross misuse/abuse of the official machinery and a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which mandates neutrality and prohibits the use of official authority to intimidate or disrupt the political activity of any campaigner,” Gharia said.
The ‘unlawful’ action taken by the police is a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India, and clearly reflects the ill intention of creating an atmosphere of fear among the propagandists and supporters of the BJD.
He described the action of police officers as undemocratic, barbaric and not acceptable in a civilized society.
–IANS
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