Violence Erupts in Odisha: Congress Leaders Beaten by Police Amid Stone Pelting Chaos

Bhubaneswar (The Uttam Hindu) : Congress's march has started from Bhubaneswar Ram Mandir Chowk to gherao the assembly. Now there is chaos during this march. Police has started chasing and beating Congress leaders. Congress workers are also pelting stones. Police has fired tear gas shells along with water cannon. Chairs and sticks are being thrown at each other. Mahatma Gandhi Marg has turned into a battlefield. A Congress worker's head has been injured. The police is trying to control the situation. Despite water spray and tear gas shells, Congress workers are not ready to retreat. Congress leaders say that even if the administration opens fire, we will not retreat. State Congress Committee President Bhakt Charan Das, Congress in-charge, all Congress MLAs and Congress leaders and workers from across the state participated in this demonstration.

Bhakt Charan Das's appeal did not work

Earlier, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das urged party workers to maintain peace but his appeal did not seem to be working. He said the Congress would hold a protest near the Vidhan Sabha demanding the formation of a House Committee to probe crimes against women. Bhakta Charan Das assured the administration that party workers will not enter the premises while tight security arrangements have been made and some party leaders have reportedly been taken into preventive custody. In a video message, Das said he was receiving information from various districts that Congress workers were being prevented from reaching Bhubaneswar to participate in the protest. Das said the Congress would hold peaceful protests for the safety of women in the state. He asked the administration not to "illegally" detain party workers. Das said illegal detention could lead to tension in the districts and the Congress would in no way be responsible for that situation.

Odisha assembly proceedings begin without Congress MLAs

The proceedings of the Odisha Assembly began today without Congress MLAs. However, before the proceedings of the House began, Biju Janata Dal MLAs sprinkled Gangajal inside the House. The MLAs say that for the first time the House has been desecrated by the entry of the police inside it. The dignity of the House has been destroyed. In such a situation, today we have sprinkled Gangajal inside the House. On the other hand, the capital has been converted into a police cantonment due to the Congress's assembly siege. The police is keeping an eye on every inch of the place.