Cops lathi-charge Panchayat Samiti members in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Acting tough on protesters, police on Monday resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse Panchayat Samiti members near lower PMG ground here in the city when the latter tried to gherao the Odisha Assembly.

Hundreds of the members of Panchayat Samiti Sabhya Association were thrashed by police officials when they tried to barge into the State assembly over fulfilment of several demands.

The activists are demanding special quarters inside gram panchayat offices, increase in monthly remuneration from Rs 1,880 to Rs 30,000 for elected members and, insurance of up to Rs 10 lakh for anyone who dies on duty.

“When they tried to break the safety barricades kept in place for the Assembly session, police tried to stop them. But when they did not listened, we had to disperse the crowd while some of the association members have been also detained,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrat Bhoi.

We urge the government to provide us benefits at par with the Sarpanch. We are always look down upon and do not get same status in panchayat offices as village heads. We are not even invited for programmes or consulted for any important decisions for which we are feeling neglected,” said an agitating Panchayat Samiti member.