Odisha BJP Delegation Denied Entry Into Strife-Torn Sambalpur, Detained At Police Station

Sambalpur: A BJP delegation, comprising Union Minister Bisheswar Tudu, MPs Jual Oram and Suresh Pujari, MLAs Nauri Nayak, Shankar Oram and Kusum Tete and state BJP chief Manmohan Samal and his predecessors Samir Mohanty and Basanta Panda, was not allowed to enter the strife-torn Sambalpur in Odisha on Tuesday.

According to sources, the BJP leaders, who were part of the fact-finding team, were stopped by police near Sripura Chhak on Jharsuguda-Sambalpur border while on their way to the district headquarters town to review the situation there. They were scheduled to meet those injured in the April 12 and April 15 violence, members of Hanuman Jayanti Samanwaya Samiti as well as the Revenue Divisional Commissioner.

Later, they were taken to the Thelkuli police station and detained there for violating Section 144 imposed in all six police station areas of Sambalpur since April 12.

“The local administration doesn’t want us to meet the victims and their family members, fearing that the machination behind the violence might get exposed. This is like an undeclared emergency,” said BJP leader Suresh Pujari.

He further said that no action has been taken against the wrongdoers despite the SP’s admission that the stone-pelting incident was pre-planned. The delegation was stopped to parry difficult questions on the matter,” he said.

Pujari informed that the delegation got the permission to visit Sambalpur the previous day. “I will examine the order of the collector and if it amounts to a breach of privilege, I will move a motion in Parliament against it,” he added.

Tudu termed the last-moment change in permission granted to them as unfortunate. “The head of police and district administration should be suspended immediately,” he demanded.

Samal claimed that Naveen Patnaik had instructed for detention of the BJP leaders. “The government is strangulated the rights of police and citizens as well as the fundamental rights of elected representatives.”

Earlier in the day, the district administration had extended internet services suspension for another 24 hours, till 10 am on Wednesday. The curfew during the first half of the day, however, was relaxed till 1 pm.

Also Read: Curfew Relaxed But Internet Shutdown Continues; BJP Team To Visit Odisha’s Sambalpur Today

On April 12, Sambalpur had witnessed a clash between two communities during a bike rally in the run-up to Hanuman Jayanti. A total of 10 police personnel and around 12 Hanuman Jayanti coordination committee members, including its working president Damodar Kar, were injured in a stone pelting incident during the clash. Two days later, there were reports of fresh violence during a Hanuman Jayanti rally in the town. So far, 85 have been arrested in connection with the arson and violence.