Odisha Jan Morcha rally-bound vehicles blocked in some places in State

-- Miscreants hurl bomb on OJS’s Athagarh office

OJM rally at Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) alleged that thousands of supporters and well-wishers, who were coming to join the Kranti Samabesh of the Morcha at the Lower PMG Square in the capital city, were forcefully obstructed by the Biju Janata Dal workers in some places of the State on Sunday. On the other hand, BJD leaders denied the allegation. 

The Morcha also alleged that some Government officials falsely intercepted the rally-bound vehicles in the name of checking as a result some vehicles failed to reach at the rally venue on the day. Due to BJD workers road blockade and protest in the places like Athagarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Ranapur, Khurda, Nayagarh and Kendujhar, most of the Morcha supporters didn’t reach at the rally venue, alleged OJM chief spokesperson Jagyenswar Babu.

Face-off between OJM supporters and the BJD workers took place when the latter stopped the vehicles of Morcha supporters at Athagarh. The BJD supporters ransacked the vehicles of rally-goers and attacked them to foil their journey to the rally place. The BJD workers blocked the NH-55 for few hours to stop the rally-goers, sources said.

OJM leader Bhagirathi Kar alleged that the BJD workers of Athagarh backed by local MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain hurled bomb on their office at Radhadamodar Pur to create terror among the Morcha supporters as a result they would fear to join in the rally. He united around 2,000 supporters for the rally, but couldn’t send them due to road blockade, Kar added.

For the road blockade and attack on Morcha supporters at Athagarh, OJM held BJD leaders and MLA Swain responsible. On the other hand, denying OJM’s allegation, BJD vice-president Prafulla Ghadai said that their party never promotes vandalism and believes on democratic process.