Balangir: Over 5,000 tribals carrying traditional weapons under the banner of Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh (BZAKS) gheraoed the District Collector’s office here today protesting against the reduction of reserved seats for members of their community in the upcoming 3-tier panchayat polls.
According to reports, protestors alleged that posts of sarpanches in 72 panchayats and three block chairman posts in Balangir district which were earlier reserved for candidates from their community have been de-reserved.
The Sangh threatened to further intensify its agitation by taking it to every panchayat if reservation of the aforementioned seats is not restored.
Protestors who tore up BJD posters and pictures of Naveen Patnaik vowed to politically boycott the State government.
