Bhubaneswar: Kharabela Nagar Police on Wednesday arrested 8 persons on charges of forcibly barging into Lohia Academy in Odisha capital and attacking rationalists for organising a feast during a lunar eclipse.
According to sources, tension erupted at Lohia Academy when Bajrang Dal activists and other traditionalists gheraoed the building near Unit-IX here where the rationalist society had organised a community feast to eat biryani and non-vegetarian food during the lunar eclipse. Some people were injured as protestors allegedly pelted stones at the building from outside and scuffled with police.
Following this, police and security personnel resorted to mild lathi charge to bring the situation under control. Police personnel in strength were also deployed outside the building.
Tension also prevailed in Berhampur following strong protests by members of Brahman Samaj, Viswa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal against the biryani feast organised by the rationalists. Ritualists in both Bhubaneswar and Berhampur were also seen throwing cow dung at the rationalists.
Slamming the state government for the deteriorating law and order situation, the rationalist said that they were attacked by a handful of goons despite organising the feast with prior permission from the authorities concerned.
