Protest During Farmer Info Centre Inauguration In Odisha: 2 BJD Leaders Booked

Nabarangpur: An FIR was lodged against two ruling BJD leaders today in connection with a confrontation during inauguration of a farmer information centre in Nabarangpur district on Tuesday.

BJP leader Gourishankar Majhi lodged the complaint against the State Planning Board deputy chairman Sanjay Das Burma and Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das at the Nabarangpur police station.

Majhi alleged that tribal people were pushed and shoved by the two BJD leaders during the inauguration of the farmer information centre.

"Several people, including tribal women and elderly farmers, were kicked and abused during the programme. We have submitted a complaint of atrocities against dalit to Nabarangpur IIC and demanded justice," Majhi said.

On the other hand, a counter complaint was also lodged against Gourishankar Majhi, former MP Balabhadra Majhi and Congress leader Brundaban Tripathy for allegedly attempting to create obstruction during the government programme.

"The farmer information centre was inaugurated yesterday. Protestors blocked road and created obstruction in the programme. We have lodged a complaint at Nabarangpur police station in this regard," said Sasank Sekhar Sahani, secretary of regulated market committee, Nabarangpur.

Hundreds of farmers and supporters of some political parties yesterday had staged a dharna in front of the farmer information centre on Tuesday. They had threatened not to allow the leaders to inaugurate the centre until all the paddy lying outside mandis in the district are procured.

The reaction of the two BJD leaders on the allegations of the BJP could not be obtained.

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)