Odisha Congress members clash with police during rally in Bhubaneswar, several hurt

BHUBANESWAR: Lower PMG route, which had turned into a warzone on Thursday following a clash between BJP members and police over teacher Mamita Meher murder case, witnessed a similar scuffle during a rally by the student wing of Congress on the same issue on Friday.
Several Congress members and police personnel were injured after a violent clash broke out when the cops tried to prevent the former from barging into the assembly.
The protesters wanted to gherao the assembly to press for the resignation of minister of state for home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged involvement in the murder case.
Police resorted to lathi-charge after the Congress protesters allegedly pelted stones, eggs, tomatoes and sticks on the former and attempted to torch a police vehicle.
As the protesters scurried for cover and entered Congress Bhawan at Master Canteen Square, the police entered the party office and thrashed the agitators, drawing criticism from several quarters.
Congress said at least 10 of their members were injured and hospitalised, one critical with serious head injuries. Police said five personnel were injured and admitted to hospital after being attacked by the protesters.
“We strongly condemn police brutality. They are not police, but BJD goondas,” Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik said.
Congress state secretary Pradeep Mohapatra demanded action against the erring police personnel. “The cops barged into our party office and brutally assaulted people, who included our members and outsiders. On one hand, we are demanding Mishra’s resignation, on the other he used the police to beat us,” Mohapatra said.
Aggrieved over the police excess, the Congress members sat on dharna at Master Canteen Square, blocking the traffic from Raj Mahal and Vani Vihar sides for several hours. The Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged police brutality and sought an apology from the police.
Police denied charges of brutality and highhandedness. “Despite being attacked with stones, sticks, eggs and tomatoes, our personnel exhibited extreme restraint and handled the angry mobs deftly. The protesters set a police vehicle on fire. Fire brigade personnel intervened in time and doused the fire promptly. A major tragedy was averted,” deputy commissioner of police Uma Shankar Dash said.
Police said they had beefed up security after receiving specific intelligence input about the plans by the Congress to foment violence.
Police said protection of the assembly and the MLAs was their first priority. “Since the assembly is in session, we had fortified security. We foiled the attempts by the protesters to breach the assembly security cordons. Action will be taken against those who attacked the police,” Dash said.
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