NFSA fallout: Agitation, violence rocks several parts of Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 28:

Mismanagement of NFSA card refund process, arrest of ineligible beneficiaries and hefty penalty on them today took a wrong turn in Odisha with violence being reported from at least in two places of the state and a large demonstration in another.

NFSA protests Gumma Gajapati

While ineligible NFSA beneficiaries clashed with cops in Gumma Block of Gajapati District, Congress workers ransacked Rourkela supply office and BJP took to the streets in Kuchinda.

Hundreds of agitators forced themselves into the Gumma Block office and ransacked the furniture there. While the stationed cops attempted to stop the unruly mob, they were also attacked. More than 10 police personnel including DSP Santosh Kumar Mishra and a SI Jagdish Panda have been injured in the incident.

The cops, on the other hand, resorted to lathi charge and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd and bring the situation back in control. The police managed to contain the situation only after additional forces from Paralakhemundi joined them.

“The administration and police officials tried to speak to the agitators. However, the situation soon went out of control. They pelted stones at the block office after the BDO didn’t come out of his office. We will take necessary action against the culprits,” said Utkal Ranjan Dash, Paralakhemundi SDPO.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Rourkela even though no injuries were reported. Dozens of Congress workers ransacked the Rourkela supply office protesting against collection of 10 percent fine and imposition of additional restrictions beyond the eight guidelines set by the Union Government on NFSA card distribution.

Hundreds of BJP workers and ineligible NFSA beneficiaries, on the other hand, took out a rally in Kuchinda town of Sambalpur district protesting against the new rules being followed for NFSA card distribution. They later submitted a memorandum for the district collector.

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