BHUBANESWAR: A total of 316 cases involving electoral violence were registered across Odisha during the 2024 simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections with Cuttack district reporting the highest, according to a written reply by chief minister Mohan Majhi in the assembly on Monday.
Eight districts — Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Rayagada, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi and Nuapada — did not report any electoral violence, stated the CM’s response to a question by Jeypore Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.Besides, the urban police district (UPD) of Cuttack commissionerate area did not report any election related violence, data revealed.
Cuttack district reported 69 cases followed by Jajpur district with 54. Assembly constituencies like Banki (won by BJD), Mahanga (Independent), Cuttack Sadar (BJP), Baramba (Independent), Athagarh (BJD), Nial (BJP) and Salipur (BJD) in Cuttack district witnessed the maximum violence.
Kandhamal, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts reported only one case each whereas Angul reported 2 cases. Bhubaneswar commissionerate police area reported a total of four cases — ree in Bhubaneswar-Central assembly segment and one in Ekamra constituency.
According to Odisha police, all cases of electoral violence were registered between March 16, when the election code of conduct came into force, and June 6, when the code was lifted. Elections in Odisha were held on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1.
“Not a single Maoist-related violence was reported in this election, a first-of-its-kind achievement for Odisha police since the 1998 Lok Sabha elections,” a senior police officer said.
On May 15, a BJP worker was allegedly killed at Srikrushnasaranpur in Ganjam districts Khallikote area following an altercation over pasting of posters of a candidate. During May 25 voting, tension gripped a booth in Begunia area after BJP MLA candidate from Khurda, Prasanta Jagadev allegedly vandalised an EVM. He was arrested the day after. On May 14, Siva Shankar Dash, an Independent candidate from Berhampur assembly segment, was arrested for allegedly assaulting BJPs Berhampur MP candidate Pradeep Panigrahy after the end of voting on May 13.