Bhubaneswar: The Odisha PCC president Bhakta Charan Das announced that the party will soon hold ‘Nari Nyaya Satyagraha’ in all district and block headquarters across the state, to be completed within a month.
The protest, which drew an estimated 50,000 Congress workers and common people from across the state, aimed to gherao the Assembly. However, the situation spiralled out of control, with protesters pelting stones and hurling chairs at police. Police responded with baton charges and tear gas.
PCC president Das, who was taken into preventive custody, condemned the police action, stating that the demonstration was peaceful until police intervened. “We salute the dedication of our workers who were injured in the police attack,” Das added.
The clashes resulted in injuries to 15 police personnel, four of them critical, and a journalist who sustained deep head injuries. All injured have been admitted to Capital Hospital.
State-in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, and Mohammad Moquim were arrested in connection with the violence.
Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena reported that the situation is currently under control, while Additional Commissioner of Police Narasingh Bhol warned that those involved in violence will be arrested.
