Bhubaneswar turns ‘battlefield’ as BJD protesters clash with police, break barricades

Bhubaneswar turned into a battleground on Wednesday as protests led by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) intensified near Lower PMG Square, demanding justice for the Fakir Mohan Autonomous College student who succumbed to burn injuries after self-immolating herself following alleged harassment by a senior college faculty.

The agitation, aimed at gheraoing Lok Seva Bhawan, escalated into violent confrontations between the police and the BJD workers.

Police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse the large gathering of BJD workers who breached the first line of barricades and attempted to storm the high-security zone near the Odisha Assembly.

As tensions mounted, security personnel detained over 100 protestors, many of whom were forcibly removed from the site.

Senior BJD Leaders Injured in the Standoff

Amid the face-off, several BJD leaders were reportedly injured. Prominent among them were Bobby Das, Dani Ghadei (aka Pranab Prakash Das, and Pritiranjan Ghadei) all of whom reportedly sustained minor injuries during scuffles with security forces.

Sources reported that the injured leaders were later moved to hospitals for treatment. Ground visuals showed broken barricades, water jets being fired, and tear gas smoke engulfing parts of the protest site.

Eyewitnesses said that chaos ensued after the first set of barriers was brought down by protesters. In retaliation, police used force and tactical dispersal methods, leading to several minor injuries and widespread disruption in the Lower PMG and adjacent zones.

Targeting Lok Seva Bhawan: BJD Accuses Government of Failure

The BJD, which had earlier observed a 6 AM to 2 PM bandh in Balasore, took its agitation to the state capital, alleging ‘systemic failure’ on the part of the state administration.

Protesters carried placards demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, as well as the State Higher Education Minister, accusing them of failing to act on the harassment complaint filed by the deceased student before her fatal self-immolation.

Till the last report came in, the Commissionerate Police personnel remained deployed around the Assembly premises. Drone cameras and barricades were still in place as a precaution against renewed attempts by protestors to regroup.