BJD MLA forces PWD engineer to publicly do sit-ups for poor road contruction

A video of newly elected BJD MLA from Odisha's Patnagarh, Saroj Kumar Meher, allegedly "forcing" a junior engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) department to do sit-ups in full public view for shoddy road construction work in his constituency has gone viral on social media.

According to sources, the legislator visited Belpada block in Odhisha's Bolangir district on Wednesday, wherein the locals complained of the poor quality of Mandal-Belpada Bypass construction work. Following which, in the purported video, which was trending on social media, Meher can be seen reprimanding the engineer and asking him to do 100 sit-ups in the middle of the road.

In response to which, encompassed by a huge crowd, the junior engineer apologised for the poorly constructed road, however, the Patnagarh MLA was in no mood to listen. The BJD MLA allegedly threatened the PWD engineer with "mob thrashing", following which the government employee was seen doing sit-ups on the road.

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Speaking over the incident District Collector Arindam Dakua told the media that he has sought the report from Prnagarh Sub-Collector and that action would be taken  on the basis of that.

"I have sought a factual report from Patnagarh Sub-Collector on the incident. Any action will be taken based on the Sub-Collector's report," Dakua said.

Meanwhile, the senior to the harrassed engineer, the executive engineer L N Mishra said the bypass construction work was underway.

"We will look into the complains and make rectifications if there is a concern over the quality of construction," added Meher.

While Meher was not immediately available for comment, both the BJP and the Congress criticised the ruling party legislator for his action.

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"If it is true, then it can be said that the MLA has taken law into his hands. I condemn his action," said Bolangir MLA Narasingha Mishra.

Senior BJP leader K V Singhdeo, who was defeated by Meher in the just-concluded election, said, "The incident proves the kind of people the BJD has chosen as its MLAs."

Meher, a first-time MLA, defeated Singhdeo by a margin of over 11,000 votes. 

(With PTI inputs)