FIR Filed Against Odisha MLA After Blank Shots Fired During Ram Navami Celebration
Odisha MLA fires blank shots during Ram Navami; FIR registered.
A case has been registered against Titlagarh MLA Naveen Jain after he allegedly fired blank rounds during a Ram Navami procession in Balangir district, Odisha, on Friday. The incident reportedly sparked panic among devotees and raised concerns over public safety during the religious celebrations.
The Ram Navami processions across parts of Odisha witnessed tense situations, with reports of hooliganism and reckless behaviour in several areas. In Balangir, what was intended as a peaceful shobha yatra turned alarming when the MLA discharged blank shots into the air, creating fear among the crowd of hundreds of devotees present. No injuries were reported.
Police officials stressed that even though the rounds were blank, firing a weapon in the middle of a large public gathering violated safety protocols. Following the incident, the MLA’s Personal Security Officer (PSO), Premchand Nag, was suspended. The action came after he was questioned by the Northern Range Inspector General at the Balangir Superintendent of Police office on Saturday.
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Balangir Superintendent of Police Abhilash G confirmed that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the PSO, who has been removed from the MLA’s security detail with immediate effect. Titlagarh Police also filed a case against both the MLA and his PSO under relevant provisions of the Arms Act, including Section 25, as well as Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Additional Superintendent of Police Himanshu Behera said that an FIR has been registered, notices have been served to the concerned individuals, and the weapon involved has been seized. He added that a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The episode has sparked debate over public safety measures during religious processions in the state, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of firearm regulations and crowd management protocols during large-scale events.
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