Flooding inside NHAI office: Three Cong workers held

Bhubaneswar: The police today detained three Congress workers in connection with the ‘artificial flooding’ staged by the party activists inside the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) office here on Monday.

The Nayapalli Police detained the three from their respective houses late on Monday night on charges of attempting to destroy government property.

Protesting the arrest, hundreds of Congress party workers and leaders today gheraoed the police station, demanding release of the arrested trio.

“The police said that the arrestee will be court forwarded since allegations have been levelled against them but also assured that in coming days they will take political procedure and not pick any leaders from their houses late night,” district unit president Manas Choudhury said.

Party leaders have threatened to intensify and hold similar protests at other places in the city if the administration fails to address immediate action.

On Saturday, the city experienced acute water logging crisis following heavy rain that lashed the city. Several vehicles were stuck in the flood water in front of the Iskcon temple on NH-16 for long hours sparking off public reactions and political blame game.

Protesting the incident, party workers led by district unit president Manas Choudhury on Monday, brought in a water tanker and  poured water inside the NHAI office as a mark of protest against the administration slackness in addressing water logging woes.