Bhadrak: The simmering intra-party tensions in the Congress boiled over in the form of a group clash during a party meeting at Bhadrak this morning.
According to reports, a constituency-wise panchayat members’ meeting in the presence of PCC president Prasad Harichadan and AICC secretary and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad was underway at the Town Hall here this morning when a section of Congress workers suddenly shouted at these two leaders and showed placards saying ‘Ticket seller Hariprasad go back’ and ‘Hariprasad Hatao, Congress Banchao’.
Tension ran high as another section of Congress workers dragged the protesters out of the meeting place and severely thrashed them. Police later rushed to the spot and took away the protesters to the police station.
Talking to media persons after the incident, the PCC president said those who had created ruckus in the meeting are not the Congress workers. “The incident has not affected the meeting, which went on smoothly,” he added.
Among others, former minister Jagannath Rout, Bhadrak District Congress Committee president Naren Palei, PCC spokesperson Sulochana Das, PCC Treasurer Mohd Moqim Khan and senior Congress leader Anant Sethi were present at the meeting.