26 NNKS members held for obstructing CM convoy

BHUBANESWAR: As many as 26 members of the Nab Nirman Krushak Sangthan (NNKS), a farmers’ body fighting for the cause of farmers in the State, were arrested by the Commissionerate Police for blocking Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s car when it was entering into the State Secretariat here on Tuesday.

The agitating members of the organisation suddenly came running in front of the Chief Minister’s convoy and tried to block the road in front of Jaydev Bhavan. The members flaunting placards and shouting slogans lied on the road which took the police for a ride while clearing the road. Later the Chief Minister’s convoy changed the route to reach the Secretariat, said the police sources.

According to the Twin City Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma they had taken all measures after getting information about the plan of a group of rowdy elements to demonstrate near Naveen Niwas, but unfortunately the agitators created the problem on the way of the Chief Minister to the State Secretariat. “After arresting 26 agitators, we have regiatsred a case against them. This is a criminal incident and we’ll take stringent action against them,” Sharma said.

The same farmers’ body, whose members a few days back had demonstrated in the visitors’ gallery of the State Assembly protesting the Government’s anti-farmer policy, on Monday served a 24-hour ultimatum to the State Government to announce provision of Rs 500 as bonus per quintal of paddy and Rs 2,000 as pension for cyclone Phailin-affected farmers.

Notably, the members of the NNKS had staged a demonstration in front of the Naveen Niwas and tried to gherao it violating prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr PC on December 17 last year. As many as 58 persons were arrested in connection with the case.