contract work feud might be reason behind firing attack on saffron leader

Police apprehended contract-work rivalry was the cause behind the firing incident on the former BJP district president Seemanchal Khatei that was taken place Friday night. Denouncing the claim of his party colleagues, police said that question of political rivalry does not arise in this particular incident as he was neither holding any key portfolio of the party nor he was contending for any post. Meanwhile doctor in VSS medical College Hospital dug out the bullet from his abdomen after conducting a small surgical operation soon after the incident. Doctor said Khatei was out of danger.

Sources said senior BJP leader and former district president of Sambalpur Seemanchal Khatei was shot by unidentified assailant at Chepti Pulia near Remed while he was on his way to Hirakud on Friday evening. He sustained bullet injury on his abdomen and was immediately admitted in VSS medical college hospital. Remembering the incident, Khatei informed that some unidentified youths were standing near the Chptipulia during his vehicle was crossing the place. “Suddenly I heard a gun firing and it hits me by breaking the widow glass. I could not see them as they had covered their faces. But they went away in a bike soon after the incident”, injured Khatei said on Saturday.

 

While his party colleagues claimed the incident was outcome of a political rivalry, police do not ready to buy such theory. Ruling out such possibility the additional SP (Sambalpur) DK Deo informed that why Khatei would be targeted when he was neither in key post nor he was having any contention. “But it is premature to draw any conclusion at this stage. We do not want to ignore any angle in our investigation”, Deo said. 

Sources said that Khatei’s associates have got assignment of the contract work of ‘blue flux’ project of Hindalco Aluminum Company which was under construction. Sources alleged that Khatei was instrumented in getting the contract works for his associates.