BJD leaders thrash BJP workers

BHUBANESWAR: Around a dozen BJD supporters, including a corporator, on Friday allegedly thrashed some BJP workers after the latter showed black flags to ministers Sanjay Das Burma and Pushpendra Singh Deo at Manamunda in Odisha’s Boudh district. According to reports, several workers of the saffron party showed black flags to the two ministers at Manamunda when they were on the way to Boudh Collector’s office to stage protest against construction projects by Chhattisgarh government in the upper catchment of river Mahanadi.

After the incident, some BJD supporters who were following the ministers in a car came out of the vehicle and started thrashing the BJP workers in the presence of policemen, sources said. One of the workers was reportedly kicked by the BJD supporters in his face and chest after he fell down. The conch party supporters left the spot after the incident and were not stopped by the cops, the sources said.

The BJP members have complained that the police officers, instead of taking action against the BJD workers, detained eight of its (BJP) workers. Condemning the incident, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma on Friday said that it was an inhuman act by the BJD workers. “The strongly condemn the barbaric attack on our party workers. In a democratic country, workers of rival parties have the right to demonstrate and the ruling BJD people have always wanted to trample down this right,” he said.

“BJP Legislature Party Leader (BJPLP) Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo along with other senior leaders of the party will visit Manmunda to meet the injured workers,” said Mr Sharma. “The BJD will seek a detailed report on today’s incident. The matter will be examined and action will be taken thereafter,” said BJD leader Subash Singh.