Bhubaneswar: The attack on police by BJP Yuva Morcha members during the march to gherao Odisha Assembly was pre-planned, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh told the media on Tuesday.
The youth wing of the saffron party had launched Vidhan Sabha gherao abhiyan as a mark of protest against Naba Das murder case and alleged deteriorating law and order situation in the state. A scuffle broke out between the agitating BJP workers and police when the former attempted to march towards Odisha Assembly by breaking the barricades. Police then resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protestors. The situation took an ugly turn with the agitators started throwing stones, plastic bottles and eggs at the cops, sources said.
The DCP said that eight to 10 police personnel were injured as MG Marg turned into a battle ground with the agitators hurling stones, plastic bottles and eggs at them. “ACP Amitabh Mohapatra sustained head injuries in the clash and he along with other injured cops were rushed to Capital Hospital for treatment. Five police vehicles were damaged by the agitators, who had also brought kerosene to set those on fire. This clearly shows that the attack was pre-planned,” he added.
Police later took several protestors into preventive custody to control the situation.
DGP Sunil Bansal visited the Capital Hospital to meet the injured police officials.
Meanwhile in the Assembly, BJP MLAs created a ruckus over the incident as Leader of Opposition Jayanarayan Mishra demanded a ruling from the Speaker for an impartial investigation into the police excesses.
