Bharat Bandh: 19 Congress Workers Held For Vandalism In Cuttack

Cuttack: Badambadi Police arrested 19 Congress workers including 12 women on charges of vandalising an ATM during Bharat Bandh demonstration on Tuesday.

Cuttack Nagar Mahila Congress chief Giribala Behera is among the arrested. After their arrest, the workers have been forwarded to court.

The party workers, however, vehemently denied any vandalism and condemned the alleged aggressive behaviour by the police personnel.

#Cuttack: Badambadi Police arrests 19 Congress workers including 12 women on charges of vandalising ATM during #BharatBandh demonstration today. Cuttack Nagar Mahila Congress chief Giribala Behera also among the arrested

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"We were peacefully protesting at Badambadi Chhak in solidarity with the farmers. We do not know whether the ATM was vandalised and who did it. But the hostility of the security personnel and the way they dragged us is very condemnable," said an woman activist.

"They made us to wait for hours at the Barabati Stadium and are yet to make it clear that what are the Sections charged against us," she added.

The Bandh by farmers seeking repeal of three new farm laws was supported by opposition parties such as Congress, CPI, CPM, SUCI, All India Forward Bloc, CPI (ML), CPI (M) and AAP, among others in Odisha. Normal life was adversely affected due to the strike in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other parts of the State.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)