Sambit Patra attacked with ink and tomatoes in Puri

BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra was attacked with black ink and tomatoes by Chhatra Congress workers near Jhadeswari chhak in Puri on Wednesday.

Patra was here to lodge his protest against the ongoing constructions under the Puri Srimandir Heritage Corridor project. The BJP leader was returning from Puri when the members of Congress' youth wing reportedly hurled tomatoes and also threw black ink on his vehicle.

The Chhatra Congress workers reportedly attacked Patra's vehicle and also show black flags to the BJP leader as a mark of protest against the rising inflation and hike in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders.

The attack on the senior BJP worker was meant to convey the dissatisfaction of the party against the Centre’s lack of action against price rise, said sources.

While Chhatra Congress workers flung tomatoes at the vehicle of Patra at Balagandi chhaka, another group of activists threw ink at his vehicle at Jhhadeswari Club in the holy town. There was a commotion at the sites with police chasing away the attackers, said sources.

The BJP spokesperson also accused the Odisha government of destroying the State's rich heritage on Wednesday. “I pray before Lord Jagannath to give some good sense to Odisha government and also to MP Pinaki Mishra. This government has destroyed our heritage,” he said.