Bolangir: Patnagarh Public Works Department (PWD) Junior Engineer (JE) Jaswant Sabar, who was forced to do sit-ups by Patnagarh BJD MLA and later allegedly kidnapped, was rescued by police from Khariar in Nuapada district, informed Patnagarh DSP Suresh Nayak.
Earlier on Wednesday a video showing Patnagarh BJD MLA Saroj Meher forcing the JE to do sit-ups in public went viral on social media.
After the video clip of the MLA coercing the JE Jaswant Sabar to do sit-ups in full public glare for alleged poor quality road work went viral on social media, the Bolangir Collector ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, the first time MLA has tendered an apology.
The video clip shows Meher pointing out the poor quality road work and asking the JE at least six times to “do 100 sit-ups.” After Sabar did some sit-ups and pleaded with the MLA to let him off, the MLA is heard in the video clip as saying, “If you fail to do the sit-ups locals will beat you up. This is an MLA’s order.”
The incident happened at Gambhari village under Belpada tehsil on Wednesday. The MLA inspected an underconstruction road when locals complained of poor quality.
Meanwhile, the victim JE’s wife lodged an FIR at Patnagarh police station demanding arrest of the MLA.
Former Patnagarh MLA and senior BJP leader KV Singhdeo and Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra condemned the MLA’s act.