Angul: Eggs were hurled at police personnel by Congress activists during a gherao of the office of the superintendent of police (SP) here today in protest against the arrest of 16 party activists, including Angul district unit president Pratap Chandra Pradhan, during the 12-hour bandh on Tuesday.
The eggs hurled by the irate Congress workers in the presence of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan hit at least three police officers and several constables.
Earlier, over a hundred party activists took out a rally from the Congress Bhavan here to the SP's office and staged a demonstration demanding immediate release of the 16 detained Congress activists. Harichandan and Mahila Congress president Sasmita Behera participated in the protest.
The PCC president said the police vindictively arrested 16 Congress workers, including three minors, by registering false cases against them. “We will intensify our stir if lawful action is not taken to release the activists forthwith,” he said.
"The party condemns the police excesses and arrest of the activists during the 12-hour bandh. Police have turned out to be the middlemen of the ruling BJD," said the Mahila Congress president.
She further said that the police have lodged cases against the activists under Section 307 of the CrPC. “On what grounds did the police arrest them? Did they attempt to kill anyone? And why no such action was taken against BJD MLAs and other senior leaders for assaulting leaders of opposition parties in the past?” she questioned. She further warned that the Congress would not tolerate the Government highhandedness in the coming days.