Ratnakar Sahoo, the Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Odisha, was assaulted and dragged out of his office by a group of individuals allegedly linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 30, 2025. The attack, which occurred during a public grievance hearing, involved Sahoo being slapped, kicked, and physically attacked inside the BMC office. The incident was captured on video and widely circulated, prompting condemnation from political leaders across parties, including BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das, and BJP leaders who expressed regret and called for strict action. Following the assault, BMC employees and Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers staged protests and cease-work strikes demanding the arrest of those responsible and assurances of officer safety. Police registered an FIR at Kharvelnagar Police Station and arrested six individuals, including BJP corporator Jagannath Pradhan, who was later sent to 14-day judicial custody. The BMC Mayor Sulochana Das and Odisha Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Dutta Singh confirmed swift police action and called for the arrest of all involved, including the mastermind behind the attack. The incident has sparked a political controversy over law and order in Odisha, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of fostering a climate of violence, while BJP leaders condemned the attack and assured cooperation with the investigation. The assault has significantly impacted civic operations as administrative officers across districts went on mass leave in protest. The state government and police continue to investigate the case, emphasizing the need for maintaining law and order and protecting government officials on duty.