Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Thursday took a firm stand after the auto drivers’ agitation in the city turned violent. The Minister strongly condemned the attacks on common people and damage to government property under the guise of protest.
Reacting sharply to the incidents, the Minister said that the auto drivers will have to compensate for the damage caused in the city. He also made it clear that the illegal auto stands of those involved in violence will be demolished.
“The agitators have taken the law into their own hands and attacked ordinary citizens. Violence and vandalism in the name of agitation will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the Minister stated.
He further said that action will be taken against those who damaged government vehicles, and the licences of auto drivers involved in the destruction will be cancelled.
It is pertinent to mention that the situation had escalated earlier when hundreds of auto drivers took out a procession from Master Canteen towards Lower PMG and blocked the road. The protest later turned tense, with allegations of stone-pelting on the police. As many as 16 police personnel were injured in the incident. To bring the situation under control, the police resorted to a lathi-charge around 1 pm. Several drivers were also injured, and one person who fell unconscious was admitted to Capital Hospital.
According to reports, the agitators damaged 11 police vans. In view of the tense situation, a large police force was deployed at Master Canteen and Gandhi Marg.
