TNI Bureau: Odisha Congress’ anti-Naveen protest turned violent and several Congress workers, policemen and journalists were hurt in the clash with security forces in the state capital Bhubaneswar today.
The Congress workers were protesting against the ruling BJD government near the Lower PMG and tried to gherao the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Police resorted to lathicharge, water canon and tear gas when the protesters tried to break the barricade and pelted stones at the police.
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Around 60 cops were injured in the violence. However, it cannot be mentioned the exact numbers of people were hurt in the clash. Congress leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik alleged that police jumped the barricade and beat up the party workers.
Initial reports said that DCP Nitinjeet Singh, OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik and his senior party colleagues Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Tara Prasad Bahinipati were injured in the violence.
The protesters were holding the protest at the PMG square as per the call by the Congress against Naveen Patnaik with a slogan and posters “Naveen Hatao, Odisha Bachao”. The Congress has been charging the government for several issues like coal scam.