BJP supporter killed, 7 hurt in clash in Odisha ahead of polls

BERHAMPUR: Ahead of second phase of polls to the Lok Sabha and assembly in Odisha, a clash between BJD and BJP supporters on Wednesday night left a BJP supporter dead and seven persons injured.
The incident took place at Srikrushnasaran Pur under Ganjam district's Khallikote police station limits. "Nine persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the clash," said Ganjam SP Jagmohan Meena.
The deceased was identified as Dillip Pahan (28).The clash began between supporters of the rival parties over putting up of posters of a candidate, said police.
Irked over the incident, several BJP workers reportedly vandalised BJD vehicles parked near the house of BJD candidate Suryamani Baidya at Khallikote. They also staged a road blockade near Khallikote police station demanding arrest of all BJD supporters involved in the clash. Police had to chase them to disperse the crowd and the district administration imposed Section 144 of the CrPC. Police force have been deployed in Khallikote.
Khallikote, a segment reserved for Scheduled Caste candidate, under Aska Lok Sabha seat, will go to poll on May 20. The BJD has re-nominated its sitting MLA Suryamani Baidya as its candidate, while BJP has fielded former MLA Purna Chandra Sethi. Condemning the incident, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his condolence to the family members of the deceased. "People of the state will give a fitting reply through the ballot to the perpetrators in the poll," he said in a social media post.