BJD MLA manhandles kin of martyred CRPF trooper in Odisha

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA from Cuttack-Barabati in Odisha, Debashis Samantaray has landed in trouble after a video of him allegedly manhandling the relative of CRPF Constable Manoj Behera, killed in the Pulwama attack, went viral on social media.

Behera was among the 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.

The viral video is of Saturday, when people were paying their last respects to Behera before the final rites in his native village of Ratanpur in Cuttack district.

In the video, Samantray is seen pushing Behera's uncle who fell down near the coffin.

Samantray apologised for his behaviour to the kin of the martyr.

"I was just trying to make the person sit down when the martyr is being given guard of honour. I was not aware that the concerned person was the relative of the martyr. I apologise if I have unwittingly hurt anyone's feelings," said the BJD MLA.

However, both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have slammed his behaviour.

"I condemn the mistreatment of the kin of Odisha's brave son Manoj Behera, who was martyred in the Pulwama attack, by a BJD lawmaker. This kind of reprehensible behaviour when the entire nation is standing with the families of our bravehearts shows the true character of the BJD," said Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik.

State BJP secretary Lekhasri Samantsinghar said the BJD MLA's behaviour was heinous and unfortunate and he should be immediately arrested as he has hurt the sentiments of the people.

Prasanna Sahu, another CRPF trooper from Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, was also killed in the Pulwama attack.

--IANS

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