Ganjam BJP Yuva Morcha President Granted Conditional Bail; Supporters Welcome Him with Bike Rally

Manoj Kanta Dash, Odishabarta

Brahmapur, August 25, 2026: Ganjam district BJP Yuva Morcha president B. Somanath Patra, who was arrested for allegedly obstructing police personnel and verbally abusing them during a child labour rescue operation, has been granted conditional bail by a court.

Patra was arrested following an incident during a child labour rescue operation conducted by the Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (IAHTU), Berhampur, at a hotel in the Rangeilunda Market area under Gopalpur police limits. During the operation, police rescued two minor children allegedly engaged in labour.

According to police, while the IAHTU team was leaving the spot with the rescued children, Patra allegedly obstructed the personnel, abused them verbally, attempted to take the minors away and issued threats. Following a complaint lodged at Gopalpur Police Station, he was taken into custody on Saturday night.

Police said Patra, 36, a resident of Bhabhi Narayanpur under Rangeilunda block, had also been involved in two other cases previously registered at Gopalpur Police Station.

BJP Delegation Protests Arrest

Following Patra’s arrest, political tensions escalated as a delegation of Ganjam district BJP leaders protested the action. The delegation, led by Ganjam district BJP president Saroj Sabat, met senior state BJP leaders at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar and raised questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

The BJP leaders also discussed the political implications of the incident and demanded due consideration of the circumstances leading to Patra’s arrest.

Court Grants Conditional Bail

On Monday, after examining the case history and relevant records, the court granted conditional bail to Somanath Patra. Following his release from jail in Berhampur, party leaders and supporters accorded him a grand welcome.

Supporters organised a bike rally and band procession through the city. The procession passed through the Maa Thakurani Temple area before concluding at the BJP party office, where Patra was received by party workers and supporters amid slogans and celebrations.

The latest development has added another political dimension to the controversy surrounding the child labour rescue operation and Patra’s arrest (?).