Dharna place turns battlefield, more than 100 injured

--Congress calls Odisha bandh on Monday

BHUBANESWAR: The Dharna place at the Lower PMG virtually turned into a battle field when the supporters and workers of the Congress party tried to break the police barricade to gherao the State Assembly here on Thursday. More than hundred persons including 30 cops and eight journalists were injured in the clash between the police and agitators. Around hundred agitators were arrested by the police.

More than 40,000 supporters and workers of the Congress party came in a procession and gathered at the lower PMG to participate in the rally. At 2.03 pm, the agitators started breaking the police cordon to enter into the security area of the police. When the agitators tried to enter into the security layer, the police fired tear gas shells and used water canons to disperse the violent mob. The clash between the agitators and police was gradually increasing with the addition of other Congress workers during the clash.

The mob pelted stone and also attacked some police personnel by breaking the bamboo sticks used in the barricades. The police also chased away the mob by attacking in lathis following the magistrates’ announcements. The violent mob entered into the security area of the police by breaking the three-layer security level. During the clash, more than hundred agitators were injured, 10 of them critically, while 30 police personnel were injured, three of them critically.

Eight photojournalists along with some video journalists were injured during the clash. One OB van of a leading electronic media channel was reportedly damaged in stone pelting. The top police officials were just watching the mob without taking any steps to control the mob. The mob was repeatedly coming towards the security area by breaking the three-layer security. It was seen that some policepersons were chased by the mob and mercilessly beaten up by them. Similarly, the police personnel were charging the agitators heavily.

The police controlled the situation after two and half hours of virtual battle between the agitators and cops. Director General of Police Prakash Mishra, ADG (Intelligence) Abhay, IG (intelligence) Arun Sarangi, ADG Sanjeev Marik, Twincity Commissioner Sunil Roy and Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjeet Singh were present to take the stock of the situation.