BJD corporator arrested in rape case
As Jena was not available at his house and possible locations in the city and remained incommunicado, the police formed a special squad and launched a manhunt for the BJD leader. 'Finally, he was located at a village under Berhampur police station limit in Nilgiri area in Balasore and apprehended by the special squad,' a police officer said. Jena was staying in a village in Nilgiri area, which is close to the forest, with the aim of escaping to the jungle if there was any police raid to apprehend him. However, he could not escape because the operation was carried out secretly, the officer said.
Immediately after his arrest, the BJD issued an office order stating that: 'Amaresh Jena, Corporator, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, is hereby suspended from Biju Janata Dal with immediate effect.'
The BJD Bhubaneswar president, Ashok Panda, told reporters on Sunday that Jena's suspension will not affect the party. 'No one is indispensable for BJD. It is party first. I reiterate that law will take its own course.' He said the BJD has acted immediately as soon as Jena was arrested by police. 'The BJD stands by its pro-women ideology. Jena's arrest will in no way damage BJD.
It is a huge party with thousands of workers and leaders. He is an accused and will go through the legal process,' Panda said.
On Saturday night, the police had arrested five aides of Jena on charges of harbouring him. The police said the five persons provided conveyance and assisted Amaresh Jena in evading arrest. The five arrested individuals hail from various parts of Khurda and Jagatsinghpur districts. They were forwarded to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected.
A 19-year-old woman, in a written complaint at Laxmisagar police station, accused the BJD corporator of rape, foeticide, cheating and criminal intimidation. Jena, while absconding, told a section of the media that he was 'innocent' and 'framed' by the ruling BJP.
In her complaint, the survivor alleged that the corporator sexually exploited her with the promise of marriage when she was 17 years old. She claims that Jena took her to Puri, engaged in physical relations, and in February 2024, when she was still a minor, forced her to abort a two-month pregnancy by administering pills. The survivor also alleged that she was threatened and directed not to reveal the matter to anyone.
Police have recorded the statement of the survivor, and she also underwent a medical test. Bhubaneswar police had this week arrested the State president of NSUI, Udit Pradhan, for allegedly raping an engineering student. He has also been suspended from the party.
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