BJP Yuva Morcha Members Clash With Police In Odisha Capital; ACP Sustains Head Injuries

Bhubaneswar: Violent scuffle broke out between BJP Yuva Morcha activists and police personnel at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Odisha capital as the former marched towards the Assembly, breaking barricades, in a massive rally on Tuesday over the law and order situation in the state and murder of Naba Das.

Police resorted to lathicharge to control the situation, but it soon took an ugly turn as the activists of BJP’s youth wing pelted them with water pouches, eggs and stones. Several policemen, including ACP Amitabh Mohapatra and journalists, were injured in the incident. The ACP sustained head injuries. Some of the agitators were also injured in the clash.

The agitators, however, claimed that police were the first to attack them. They also raised slogans against the Naveen Patnaik-led government, accusing it of ‘goodaraj’ in the state.

The protestors were later taken into preventive custody, sources said.