The assault on OAS officer at the BMC office has sparked public outrage, exposing rising threats to officials and raising urgent concerns over law and order
Bhaskar Parichha
On June 30, 2025, Ratnakar Sahoo, an officer of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) and the Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), was violently attacked within his office in Bhubaneswar during a public grievance session. The incident, which was recorded on video and extensively shared on social media, depicted a group of men, reportedly including a BJP corporator and supporters associated with a defeated BJP MLA candidate, forcibly dragging Sahoo from his office, kicking him, and pulling him down the stairs.
Sahoo has lodged a First Information Report (FIR), identifying the assailants, who allegedly acted without any apparent provocation. Three suspects are currently in police custody, and the investigation, overseen by DCP Prakash Chandra Pal, involves two teams dedicated to capturing all individuals involved.
The incident has triggered widespread indignation. Former Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, denounced the attack, describing it as a “shocking and disgraceful” assault on a senior official and urging Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to promptly take action against both the assailants and the political figures allegedly behind it.
BJD and Congress leaders, including Mayor Sulochana Das and MP Saptagiri Ulaka, have criticized the BJP government, characterizing the incident as proof of “gunda raj” and a breakdown of law and order. Employees of the BMC organized a sit-in protest, ceasing work and demanding arrests along with enhanced security measures.
The motive behind the attack remains ambiguous, although Sahoo indicated a confrontation with a corporator named Jivan Babu, who accused him of misconduct before the onset of the assault. This incident has heightened concerns regarding the safety of public officials and the overall state of governance in Odisha.
The Odisha Administrative Service Association has declared a “mass leave” protest commencing on July 1, 2025, to call for severe measures against those responsible and improved safety for officers. Nevertheless, this protest was postponed following a meeting between Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and representatives of OASA on June 30, 2025, which also included the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Commissioner of Police, and Accountant General. The Chief Minister guaranteed decisive action against all individuals implicated in the assault, resulting in the temporary halt of the strike.
Social media conversations have underscored an increasing need for improved security for OAS and IAS officers. One individual specifically called upon the Odisha government to assign Personal Security Officers (PSOs) to these officials, emphasizing their vital role in making decisions at the ground level and the dangers they encounter.
Although there is no confirmed official policy regarding PSOs in the available resources, this situation mirrors the public and professional demand for enhanced protective measures.
BMC employees organized a sit-in protest, ceasing work and insisting on the immediate arrest of the assailants as well as better security provisions at BMC facilities. The demonstration, which received backing from BJD corporators and Mayor Sulochana Das, featured a road blockade on Janpath, signaling a wider appeal for systemic reforms to guarantee the safety of officers.
The police in Bhubaneswar have initiated actions to manage the immediate consequences, apprehending three individuals (Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Mahapatra, and Debashis Pradhan) and persisting with investigations to uncover additional participants. The availability of CCTV footage has facilitated the inquiry; however, the reports did not specify any particular strategies for long-term security improvements at BMC offices.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged prompt measures and emphasized that the incident reflects a larger failure in law and order. This mounting pressure may compel the government to contemplate formal security measures for officers, although no definitive policy announcements were identified in the sources.
Although the Chief Minister’s assurances and the police’s arrests provide immediate accountability, there is no evident indication of specific new security initiatives (such as increased security personnel, improved office surveillance, or obligatory PSOs) being enacted or suggested for OAS officers.
The postponement of the OASA’s mass leave indicates a level of trust in the government’s commitments, yet the absence of comprehensive policy updates renders the future of long-term security improvements ambiguous.
The feelings of the public, along with the protests organized by employees of the BMC, indicate a strong desire for comprehensive structural reforms. Among these demands is the need for specific security provisions for the officers. Despite the clarity of these requests, they remain unaddressed and have not yet been implemented as formal policies or measures.
While attacks on officers by political party members have occurred before, this incident is remarkable as it represents a first of its kind and is, to say the least, shocking. The government has a fundamental obligation to shield its officers from such acts of aggression, and rigorous measures must be enforced against the perpetrators to avert similar situations in the future.
Moreover, the ruling political party needs to guarantee that its members and office-bearers behave appropriately towards officers. Ultimately, it is the government that will bear the brunt of public criticism due to the disgraceful actions of its party members.
The assault on OAS officer Ratnakar Sahoo at the BMC office has sparked public outrage, exposing rising threats to officials and raising urgent concerns over law and order.
(The author is a senior journalist and columnist. Views expressed are personal.)
