Odisha Bureaucrats in Eight Districts to Commence Mass Leave Following Assault; BMC Officials Cease Work

In response to the brutal assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) additional commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) and Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officers across eight districts have decided to initiate an indefinite mass leave. This decision follows a day after the OAS Association initially deferred their mass leave after assurances from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi regarding strict action. The affected districts include Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Rayagada, Balangir, Sonepur, and Ganjam. Cuttack ADM Shiba Toppo stated that the officers would remain on leave until exemplary action is taken and safety is guaranteed. Meanwhile, BMC staff also staged a cease-work agitation and a day-long dharna, demanding swift justice. Three individuals, including a BJP corporator, have been arrested in connection with the assault, and the Odisha BJP president has suspended five party members allegedly involved in the incident.