Bhubaneswar: Demanding scheduled tribe status for their community, hundreds of Kudumi Sena members staged protest in Bhubaneswar today.
The agitating members took out a rally from Master Canteen Chhak to Lower PMG urging the State government to forward their request to the Centre. While trying to gherao Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's residence, the protesters clashed with the policemen deployed at the spot.
Police detained Kudumi Sena chief Jaimuni Kumar Mahanta, who was later freed by the agitating members.
"The State government had withdrawn the ST status for our community in the year 1950. Since then, we have been protesting," Mahanta said.
Earlier this year, members of the outfit had called a 6-hour bandh in Mayurbhanj district demanding ST status for their community.
On March 11, Patidar leader, Hardik Patel had visited Baripada to support the ongoing fight of Kudumi Sena.