BJP demo turns ugly in Odisha’s Cuttack; 4 policemen hurt in stone pelting

Cuttack: At least four policemen including an Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) were injured when BJP workers clashed with the police here today.

BJP workers who were staging a demonstration in front of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) office alleging corruption and tardy progress made in drainage and sewerage works undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the city clashed with the police when they were stopped from barging in inside the premises.

Prevented by the police from entering, BJP workers pelted eggs and tomatoes at CMC office building. Some BJP workers allegedly pelted stones at the police in which ADCP Rajkishore Paikaray and three constables were injured.

While police have taken into custody some BJP activists, the injured policemen have been admitted to the City Hospital here. Four platoons of policemen were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

However, the saffron party has denied pelting of stones by its workers while shifting the blame on BJD workers. The BJP alleged that those who had indulged in stone pelting were BJD men.

The BJD has termed the incident as ‘BJP’s goodaraj’.

“A new Brahmin Pitamber Acharya has now taken charge of the BJP in Cuttack. He was earlier with Lulu Sena. Such type of goondaraj is expected from him,” said BJD spokesperson and Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasish Samantaray.