BJP women activists clash with cops in Sambalpur

Sambalpur: Activists of BJP Mahila Morcha had a face-off with police here today when the former tried to gherao the office of the Inspector General (IG), North protesting against the 'illegal' detention of the party members prior to the chief minister's visit to the city on February 27.

Two of the women activists were admitted to local hospital after they fainted during the scuffle.

“Mahila Morcha president, Brajrajnagar MLA Radharani Panda and top leaders of the party led the protest rally,” Susil Panigrahi, additional SP of Sambalpur, said.

Police had allegedly whisked off many women workers and leaders of BJP and Congress from their houses on February 26 night and detained them at the police station all night on the eve of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s tour to Sambalpur on February 27.

The step was taken as a preventive measure on the eve of the high profile visit. Legal experts had called the detention illegal as they were taken away at night and detained in the police station.