Kolkata, 20 May (H.S.): The state leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken serious note of an alleged incident involving misconduct with a health official in Purulia district and has issued show-cause notices to four party leaders.

The leaders who received the notices are Rakesh Mahato, Bijoymohan Singh, Arunchandra Majhi and Mithun Kumar.

According to party and local sources, the controversy stems from an incident that allegedly took place on May 12 involving the Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) at the Pathardi Health Centre in the Baghmundi block area of Purulia.

Allegedly some BJP leaders engaged in a heated argument with the health official over the issue of pregnant women from the Baghmundi region being advised to seek treatment at hospitals in another state. During the confrontation, the leaders allegedly threatened and misbehaved with the officer.

Rakesh Mahato is a member of the Purulia Zilla Parishad and convener of the Baghmundi block BJP unit. Bijoymohan Singh serves as the block co-convener, while Arunchandra Majhi is the president of Mandal-4 and Mithun Kumar heads the BJP Yuva Morcha unit in the area.

In the notice issued by the party, allegations include intimidating the health officer, using abusive language, physically harassing him and obstructing government work — actions that were described as being against party discipline.

Following recommendations from the party’s disciplinary committee and on the instructions of state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya, the four leaders have been asked to stay away from party activities for the time being. They have also been directed to submit written explanations regarding their conduct within seven days.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey