Bhubaneswar: A protest against Odisha IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi took a chaotic turn when a swarm of honeybees attacked protesters, police personnel, and media representatives near the officer’s official residence. The incident left several individuals stung and forced many to take cover during the heated demonstration.
Members of the Odisha Youth Congress and Chhatra Congress had gathered to demand Sethi’s arrest over his alleged involvement in a tender-fixing case. However, the protest spiraled into disorder as the unexpected bee attack created panic among those present. Protesters were seen lying on the ground and waving their hands to ward off the bees.
Police deployed at the site and journalists covering the protest were not spared, as the swarm indiscriminately stung people in the area. Some protesters accused individuals linked to the IAS officer of orchestrating the bee attack as an “evil act” to disrupt the demonstration.
Bishnupada Sethi, who serves as the Principal Secretary to multiple departments in the Odisha government, is under scrutiny after being summoned by the CBI for his alleged involvement in a bribery case. The investigation centers around a reported Rs10 lakh transaction linked to a government tender.
The bribery case has already led to the arrest of three individuals, including two contractors and a senior official of Bridge and Roof Co. (India) Ltd., following a cash seizure near a hotel in Bhubaneswar.
Today’s incident, marked by a bizarre bee attack, has added an unusual layer of drama to the ongoing controversy surrounding the IAS officer and highlighted the tensions between protesters and the administration.
