Ruckus in Odisha Assembly over Talcher MLA’s Arrest

Huge uproar prevailed in the Odisha Assembly today over the arrest of Talcher MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan for the labour unrest at the Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd. (MCL). The arrested MLA has been on an indefinite hunger strike inside the jail in protest against his arrest.

The Congress and BJP MLAs vociferously protested the MLA’s arrest, saying he was being targeted unfairly. The ruling party was on a backfoot, which forced Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat to adjourn the Assembly, which resumed later.

In the ongoing tension between two sections of labourers at the MCL, Independent MLA from Talcher, Braja Kishore Pradhan, was assaulted by some miscreants. That provoked his supporters to carry out large-scale violence at the railway siding in Jagannath Coilliery. At least 40 vehicles were torched.

The police arrested the MLA in connection with the violence. He was sent to 14-day judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in several areas of the Talcher coal belt.