BJP activists try to barge into Odisha DGP office, clash with cops

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Dec 22:

Protesting the alleged attack on BJP activists by BJD workers during Bhubaneswar bandh yesterday, the saffron party activists today tried to barge into Director General of Police (DGP) office here while gheraoing it.

Hundreds of BJP workers took out a rally from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth place at Odia Bazar here and reached the DGP office to gherao it.

However, a scuffle ensued between policemen and BJP activists when the latter tried to barge into the office by breaking the barricade.

Later, Additional DGP pacified the agitators and received a memorandum from them.

“We had come here with two demands. Our first demand was arrest of those who have killed Rishi. The murderers are moving freely in Bhubaneswar. Our second demand was arrest of those who thrashed BJP workers yesterday,” said Bhrigu Buxipatra, BJP state general secretary.

“The DGP didn’t come out to receive our memorandum even if we had informed him regarding it yesterday. It proves that police is supporting the accused. The BJP will intensify its agitation till the Mayor’s arrest,” he added.

Notably, BJD workers had allegedly thrashed some BJP activists yesterday during the 12-hour Bhubaneswar bandh called by the BJP over city Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena’s alleged link in the murder of engineering student Asutosh Mohanty alias Rishi.

The BJP has alleged that police acted as a mute spectator when the BJD workers were beating the BJP activists.