Odisha BJP files complaint against DGP, CP, Bhubaneswar DCP at police stations

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of the BJP today filed complaint against the Director General of Police (DGP), Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) and Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) at police stations across the state over alleged police excess on BJP Yuva Morcha members on Mahatma Gandhi Marg here during a rally on February 28.

The BJP Yuva Morcha activists have also planned to stage protest in front of all SP offices in the state from tomorrow.

“They had taken out the rally in a peaceful and democratic way. Cops were used to attack the activists intentionally in order to divert the attention from Naba Das murder case. A complaint in this regard was earlier lodged at the Capital Police Station. However, FIR was not filed by police. This is a violation of Section 154 of the CrPC. The DGP, CP and Bhubaneswar DCP are responsible for the attack. We are filing complaint against the three at all police stations of the state,” said BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan while heading towards the Kharavela Nagar police station here along with several party leaders and workers.

“A police personnel was seen kicking a BJP Yuva Morcha activist, which led to a scuffle between the police and the workers. They have been arrested under Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder). It shows that the state government is trying to suppress our agitation against deteriorating law and order situation,” said Prithviraj Harichandan, BJP State General Secretary.

“The BJP Yuva Morcha activists had gone to police station to lodge complaint against the cops. However, case was not registered,” he said.

“If our complaints are not accepted at the police stations, we will move court to file petition,” he added.

Notably, violent scenes had unfolded on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg on February 28 as BJP Yuva Morcha members clashed with police during a rally. Several cops and BJP Yuva Morcha activists were reportedly injured in the incident.

Protesting the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the BJP Yuva Morcha workers had initially taken out a rally from party’s State Headquarters here and were heading towards the Odisha Legislative Assembly building through the Mahatma Gandhi Marg when police intercepted them.

Subsequently, they clashed with the cops following which police resorted to lathi charge to disperse them. However, the situation worsened as the BJP Yuva Morcha members pelted stones, eggs and water pouches at police.

Several policemen, including DSP Amitabh Mohapatra, were injured in the incident.