Scuffle breaks out between police and BJP workers in Odisha’s Bhadrak 

A scuffle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and police was witnessed at Chandbali block office on Friday. 

Protesting against the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led government’s corruption, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, gheraoed the Chandbali block office in Bhadrak district. 

Hundreds of saffron party leaders and workers under the leadership of state president, Manmohan Samal took out a massive rally from Chandbali Kali temple that culminated at the block office. They staged a demonstration there, raising slogans against the ruling dispensation. 

Later when the party workers attempted to enter the block office, the deployed police force stopped them, leading to a scuffle. Soon the scene turned ugly when block property were allegedly vandalised and stones were hurled at the police. Chandbali sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Debishankar Pratap, and some policemen were reportedly injured in the stone pelting.

State BJP President, Manmohan Samal accused the ruling party of orchestrating a plan to tarnish the image of the party. 
“They (the police) didn’t have the measures in place to maintain law and order. It’s a plan of the ruling party to blame us,” said Samal. 

“I was doing my duty. Suddenly, those who were agitating threw stones at us. The inspector-in-charge and some others also suffered injuries. Action as per the law will be taken against the guilty,” said the SDPO. 

However, no comments have been received from the ruling BJD.