Balasore, April 3 -- Ward members of Mathani panchayat in Basta block of Odisha's Balasore district locked the Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) inside the panchayat office overnight, accusing him of embezzling funds meant for paying allowances to them.

As per reports, the ward members received allowances for five months instead of seven months. Allegedly, PEO Bhagwat Vashal misappropriated the funds intended for the remaining two months of allowances.

The matter led to a heated argument at the panchayat office on Tuesday. With the situation escalating, the ward members locked the PEO inside his office yesterday, demanding the outstanding allowances.

Sarpanch Natabar Singh said that since the panchayat committee meeting hasn't been con...