Published by: Pragati Pal
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Local residents intervened and rescued him, prompting a police response led by the city DSP.
Uma Ballav Rath, the Congress candidate for Puri assembly seat, claimed that he was suddenly attacked with bricks and glass bottles by unidentified people while he was canvassing for votes near a bus stand.
Uma Ballav Rath, the Congress candidate for Puri assembly seat, was attacked by unidentified gangsters on Sunday and was seriously injured, police said. Rath, who suffered injuries on his head and body, reported the incident to the Kumhapada police station.
He claimed that when he was canvassing for votes near a bus stop, he was suddenly attacked with bricks and glass bottles by unknown persons. Local residents intervened and rescued him, prompting a police response led by the city DSP.
“When I was canvassing for votes near the bus stop, some unknown gangsters attacked me. Suddenly, some people came and attacked me,” Russ, a former congressman, told reporters.
There is suspicion that Rath’s campaign for congressional nomination may have been the reason for the attack. Although the party initially announced Sujit Mohapatra as its candidate for the seat, it later dropped him and nominated Rath. However, Russ said he doesn’t blame anyone. “Let the police investigate this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohapatra’s supporters, angry over the replacement of candidates in the Congress leadership, ransacked the party’s regional office in the town, police said. Mohapatra claimed that he was expelled from the party after submitting his nomination papers.
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