Cuttack: Employees of the Tangi Block Office on Monday launched a pen-down strike demanding action over the alleged misbehaviour and intimidation of Assistant Block Development Officer (ABDO) Shashwat Jena by actor-turned-BJP leader Arindam Roy and BJP leader Abhaya Barik.

As part of the protest, all staff members of the Tangi Block office refrained from attending official work and staged a peaceful sit-in inside the office premises. The employees demanded strict action against the two leaders over the incident, which reportedly took place during a Panchayat Committee meeting.

Meanwhile, BJD leaders and supporters also staged a protest in front of the block office demanding the arrest of Roy and Barik. Tension prevailed in the area as a heavy police deployment was made to maintain law and order. Two platoons of police force were deployed at the spot. 

The development comes a day after an FIR was lodged against Roy and Barik at Tangi police station on allegations of threatening and misbehaving with the ABDO during the meeting.

The complaint was filed on Sunday by Tangi Block chairperson Minakshi Das. She, along with several BJD leaders and supporters, had visited the police station seeking action against the two BJP leaders.

However, Roy has denied the allegations levelled against him. Refuting the claims, Roy said he had visited the block office to raise public issues and only spoke in a loud voice after officials failed to provide satisfactory answers.

According to Roy, he had gone to the office following an appointment with the Block Development Officer (BDO). He claimed that the BDO was absent when he and other BJP workers reached the office, following which the ABDO interacted with them.

“There is no truth in the allegations that I abused the ABDO. I only raised issues concerning local people,” Roy said while rejecting the accusations of misconduct.

Roy further alleged that supporters of the BJP were being deliberately harassed by the Tangi block administration.