Congress Workers Gherao SP Offices Across Odisha Protesting Police 'Brutality'

Hundreds of Chhatra Congress activists and many senior party leaders on Tuesday gheraoed SP offices across Odisha demanding strict action against the erring police officials for their atrocity.

Earlier on December 10, a number of Chhatra Congress workers had sustained injuries in their heads, legs and hands as police resorted to lathi charge while they were staging protests in Bhubaneswar demanding the ouster of Home Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra. Police reportedly chased the activists and beat them by entering Congress Bhavan.

The workers of the grand old party also staged a dharna in front of DCP office in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack today.

“The police are acting like the agents of the ruling BJD. The DCP has no uniformity in his comments. The police excess against Chhatra Congress workers is unacceptable,” said a Chhatra Congress leader in Bhubaneswar.

“With thousands of Chhatra Congress leaders hitting the streets to intensify the protest, the police got afraid and resorted to lathi charge,” he said.

Senior Congress leader Sura Routray demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

“The incident should be enquired thoroughly and strict actions should be taken against the erring police officials. Otherwise, Congress will intensify its protests in coming days,” said Routray.

“Odisha government and police are trying to suppress the voice of democracy in the State. We will not tolerate this kind of attitude and intensify our strike until Mamita Meher gets justice,” said a Congress woman leader in Cuttack.

(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)