The arrest and alleged manhandling of a young woman sarpanch in Odisha’s Kendrapara district has triggered a political storm, with the Opposition BJD and Congress accusing the BJP government of suppressing grassroots voices.

The controversy stems from an incident at the Mahakalapada block office on June 11, when Chameli Ojha, the 33-year-old sarpanch of Tikhari gram panchayat, allegedly got into a heated argument with the block development officer (BDO) over the stoppage of funds for development works in her panchayat. The confrontation escalated, leading to her arrest aturday and allegations of torture in a police vehicle. Ojha’s youngest brother