Lawyers show black flags to Odisha Minister SN Patro in Sambalpur

Sambalpur: The agitating lawyers today showed black flags to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro in Sambalpur during the latter's visit to the area for Kharif crop procurement meeting.

As per sources, the minister was earlier scheduled to hold the meeting at RDC office but later rescheduled the place apprehending protest by the lawyers and to avoid any untoward incident.

Despite the lawyers protesting with black flags near Burla MCL, Patro attended the meeting at the scheduled place in presence of police personnel.

It may be mentioned here that the district bar association members had decided in a core committee meeting held on Tuesday to protest Patro's visit in the district.

The lawyers have been staging protests over their long-standing demands for establishment of a permanent high court bench in Western Odisha.