Youth hurls tomato at Odisha 5T Chairman VK Pandian, thrashed by BJD workers

Protests against Odisha 5T Chairman VK Pandian seem to be gaining momentum across various parts of the State. In a recent development, a youth allegedly hurled a tomato at Pandian during a public meeting in Bellaguntha area in Ganjam district on Thursday.

As per sources, the youth who hurled tomato at Pandian is a Congress worker and belongs to Bellaguntha block. He has been reportedly opposing various programmes of the BJD and 5T Chairman VK Pandian for the last few months.

Following the incident, police reportedly overpowered and nabbed the youth. However, some BJD workers allegedly thrashed him in the presence of police.

As per reports, Pandian was attending the Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha programme at Bellagunta as a guest. The youth allegedly hurled the tomato when Pandian reached the stage at around 11.30 am. The youth was immediately arrested by police, informed sources.

The programme went on as per the schedule even after the unsavoury incident. Mentioning the incident in his speech Pandian said, “I will serve the people of Odisha despite egg, tomato and ink attacks on me.”

However, no reaction pertaining to the incident was received from the Congress.