Oldman hurls bomb in city CBI court

--already hurled bomb in SC, attacked judge before

BHUBANESWAR: An old man, who has already spent over 30 years in jail for attacking judge, police and court several times during his lifespan, was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on Monday for hurling powerful firecrackers in a court room of the CBI inside the premises of court of the District and Sessions Judge here.

According to Twin City Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma, the incident happened at around 1.30 pm. An old man identified as Upendra Mohanty (63) alias Netaji, who was staying inside the court premises for last three years, entered the court room of the CBI Special judge and threw three bombs (improved version of powerful firecrackers) one by one near the table of the judge. Fortunately, judge was out of the court room at that time when the blast took place and nobody was injured in the incident, he added.

Hearing the sudden explosion, lawyers rushed to the court room and nabbed the old man from the spot. After getting information about the incident, ACP Dillip Das with other police officials rushed to the spot and started investigation into the matter following the arrest of Mohanty.

“We are investigating into the case to find motive of the old man behind the blast,” said Dr Sharma, adding, “Whether the oldman exploded the firecrackers motivated by any philosophical thought or due to mental disorder that can be ascertained after the medical inquiry.”

The oldman Mohanty belonged to Sarangpur village under Bari block in Jajpur district. He has spent most of the time of his life in jail for attacking on police, judge and court. He had attacked Judge Ajit Patnaik in 1987 and for which he spent seven years in Jharpada jail. Later he had hurled a bomb in front of the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi and got 10-year rigorous imprisonment at Tihar Jail. He had also attacked Sub-Inspector MK Manik of Jatni police station in the premises of District and Sessions Court here. He had also created nuisance in a court and it was the fourth time, sources said.

Bhubaneswar Bar Association president Santosh Kumar Choudhury demanded the State Government to give adequate security inside the court premises to avoid any untoward incident.

Dr Sharma said that metal detector and CCTV cameras will be installed in the entrance of the court to keep vigil on the mischief mongers. Security personnel will be deployed in the campus, he added.

After the incident, two platoons of police force were deployed in the court campus, said the police sources. The Commissionerate Police may conduct psychoanalysis test to unearth actual reason of Mohanty’s handiwork, said the sources.

On the other hand, some lawyers told that he did such incidents out of frustration and anger on the present system. He always claims him as a great follower of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and for which he observed Netaji Jayanti by spending Rs 1800 of his meager savings, said the lawyers. He also observed Republic Day by decorating his and others tables in tri-colour flag inside the campus, they added.