The clashes erupted on Sunday afternoon following an argument between the two groups.
The Left alliance members accused the ABVP of forcefully imposing a ban on non vegetarian food at the Kaveri Hostel in the campus while the ABVP alleged that the members of the Left alliance including the NSUI were not allowing them to conduct a Pooja and Havan programme on the occasion of Ram Navami.
Later, in the evening, the clashes further intensified and images of wounded students went viral on the social media.
"Friends, ABVP does it again. First they tried to impose a non-veg ban on everybody in Kaveri Hostel, and when common students stood up against #FoodFascism, the Sanghi goons resorted to all out violence. Students are facing serious wounds," JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh tweeted.
Meanwhile, the ABVP, sharing a video of an injured student on Twitter, said that "Leftists, Communists have attacked ABVP activists and common students of JNU. ABVP Activist Ravi Raj severely injured this Naxali attack."
As per reports, the brawl started after Soumya Ranjan's supporters allegedly raised slogans against the Khandapada MLA using banners and posters which was vehemently opposed by the supporters of the latter.
Subsequently, after a heated argument, members of both sides exchanged blows.
Later, supporters of MP Soumya Ranjan accused the Khandapada MLA of indulging in corruption.
“The Khandapada MLA is indulged in corruption. If stringent action is not taken by the party against him, then the residents of Banamalipur panchayat will not support BJD anymore,” said a supporter of Soumya Patnaik.
On the other hand, supporters of the MLA refuted the allegations and said that MP Soumya Ranjan are jealous of his fame.
“The support received in the Jana Sampark Padayatra of the MLA has been overwhelming. Hence, Soumya Patnaik’s supporters are getting jealous of his fame and popularity,” said a supporter of Khandapada MLA.
The market area at Charichhak has turned into a virtual battle ground in the morning when the locals pelted stone at security forces and set the government vehicle on fire after police allegedly lifted social activist Santosh Pradhan forcefully, who sat on a fast-on-to death over disrupting health services in the area.
Pradhan was on a hunger strike in front of the Charichhak Community Health Centre (CHC) since November 18 pressing for 8-point charter of demands including fulfilment of doctors’ post in the local health centre.
The district administration and local MLA had discussed with him and approached him to withdraw his strike three days ago. However, Pradhan refused to do so until his demands are met.
Nimapada SDPO Arun Jena and local sub-collector also met him yesterday and requested for the same on the ground that his health condition has deteriorated.
Police claimed that they have only persuaded the social worker to have food and water. After his health condition worsens, he has been admitted to district headquarters hospital, police added.
The villagers prevented the MLA from entering their area following which the supporters of Swain clashed with them. A woman was injured in the fight. Police forces have been deployed in the village to control the mob.
The protesters alleged irregularities in distribution of PDS commodities and rejection of gram sabha after declaration. The residents also said that the village puja committee had completed the construction of goddess Jagulai temple, but the bill is yet to be cleared.
If the demands are not met at the earliest, the MLA would be shown black flag. Eggs and tomatoes will also be hurled at him in future, a banner put at the protesting site read.
According to sources, police has detained six persons for their alleged involvement in the violence.
While two cases have been filed with Chandipur police station, three cases have been registered at the Town police station over the issue, the sources added.
The prohibitory orders will be clamped in the area for an indefinite period. We will take a call whether to continue the curfew in the locality or not after reviewing the situation on October 20, said a highly place police official.
Also read: Soro unrest: Curfew reimposed; Sec 144 to continue
Notably on September 12, locals of Patrapada and Gabagaon clashed with each other at Cinema square here during the idol immersion. Four persons of Patrapada and one of Gabagaon sustained injuries in the clash.
The incident occurred when protesters squatted on the rail tracks and didn’t allow the Sambalpur-Puri Intercity Express to leave the station early in the morning.
When repeated appeals from passengers and opponents of the bandh requesting them not to cause inconvenience to them fell in deaf ears, they started pushing and shoving the protesters, who retaliated in equal measure.
The incident took a violent turn when some aggrieved passengers burnt the banners of the protesters put up on the tacks.
Reports said people in Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur opposed the bandh while schools, shops and business establishments remained closed in Jhasrsuguda. In Bolangir, the protesters picketed to enforce the bandh.
Notably, the Koshal State Coordination Committee comprising representatives of organisations in 10 districts has called a 12-hour bandh in Western Odisha today demanding separate State status for the Koshal region.
Koshalbadi leader of Balangir Pramod Kumar Mishra said, “In 1936 and 1948, the political leaders of Odisha merged our land with the State through a conspiracy. We are demanding a separate State as per the provisions of Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution. The only solution to the problems like regional imbalance, discrimination in education, employment, industrialisation and development is formation of a separate State.”
Jalan sustained injuries while trying to intervene when BJD workers attacked BJP activists, who were opposing the visit of Food and Consumer Welfare minister Sanjay Dasburma’s to the town.
According to eyewitnesses, BJD workers chased the BJP workers protesting against the minister's visit to the city in front of the Circuit House here and thrashed them mercilessly.
Earlier in the day, police had detained 10 BJP workers, including senior leader Rudra Pani, on security grounds. The former parliamentarian warned the ruling party against visiting any part of the State.
"In future, no minister will be allowed to even come out of their house. Chief Minister will also be confined to Naveen Niwas," the senior leader said.
On the other hand, a team of BJP leaders, led by KV Singh Deo, today took stock of the situation after meeting the injured party activists at the hospital and visiting the spot at Manamunda in Boudh where the incident took place. The party also observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the district today demanding stern action against the BJD men involved in the brutal assault.
The party urged the chief minister to drop the two ministers allegedly involved in the assault. "Two ministers against whom the FIR has been lodged may influence the investigation. The chief minister needs to drop them from the council of minister first," BJP legislature party chief Singh Deo said.
Notably, some BJP activists were brutally assaulted by BJD workers at Manamunda in Boudh district on Friday while they were protesting the visit of ministers Sanjay Dasburma and Pushpendra Singhdeo by showing black flags.
According to reports, a constituency-wise panchayat members’ meeting in the presence of PCC president Prasad Harichadan and AICC secretary and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad was underway at the Town Hall here this morning when a section of Congress workers suddenly shouted at these two leaders and showed placards saying ‘Ticket seller Hariprasad go back’ and ‘Hariprasad Hatao, Congress Banchao’.
Tension ran high as another section of Congress workers dragged the protesters out of the meeting place and severely thrashed them. Police later rushed to the spot and took away the protesters to the police station.
Talking to media persons after the incident, the PCC president said those who had created ruckus in the meeting are not the Congress workers. “The incident has not affected the meeting, which went on smoothly,” he added.
Among others, former minister Jagannath Rout, Bhadrak District Congress Committee president Naren Palei, PCC spokesperson Sulochana Das, PCC Treasurer Mohd Moqim Khan and senior Congress leader Anant Sethi were present at the meeting.
Police rushed to the village after the tension between the Deo and Baroli Muslim sects simmering since a clash between them on April 11 this year boiled over again this morning.
Despite the efforts of the police and the village peace committee for reconciliation, tension continued to prevail in the village since the April clash over reading of Namaz at the mosque.
With section 144 in and around the disputed mosque, members of the two communities were offering prayers at separate places of the village to observe the holy month of Ramzan.
Police used tear gas and fire rubber bullets to disperse the angry mob.
According to sources, as many as 10 persons, five police officials and and an equal number of locals sustained injuries in the clash.
On being informed about the incident, sub-collector of Godipada and Nayagarh Additional SP Sridhar Pani rushed to spot and brought the situation under control.
“Sarankul SDPO, a lady police home guard and some police officials sustained severe injuries in the clash. In a bid to disperse the angry mob and bring back normalcy in the locality, we resorted to a mild lathi charge and used tear gas,” Pani said.
Sanju Moharana, wife of Ranka Nidhi alleged her husband was killed by his cousin. “Akhila, son of my husband’s aunt, called him out of our house and killed him. We had filed a complaint in this regard with the local police. But instead of taking any action, the police released Akhila after taking a bribe from him,” she said.
Refuting the allegations made by Sanju, Pani said; “We have detained Akhila at Saranakul police station and his interrogation is on. The truth will come to fore once the investigation is over. The allegations made by the locals are baseless.”
Notably on February 16, body of Mohapatra, a resident of Panchamu village, was found under a bridge. The family members filed a complaint with the police about the involvement of Mohaprata’s aunt’s son’s in the death.
Shortly before the famed temple opened at 5 p.m., the authorities decided to clamp prohibitory orders in a 30-sq km area of the temple town on Thursday -- to prevent the kind of street protests seen on Wednesday.
The temple opened for the first time after the September 28 Supreme Court ruling allowing entry of women aged between 10 and 50. In no time, frenzied male and female crowds took over the roads leading to the temple to block women in that age group.
Pathanamthitta District Collector P.B. Nooh said Section 144 will be enforced in view of the "widespread protests of today".
Minister for Devasoms Kadakampally Surendran, who was at the temple town overseeing the arrangements for the temple opening, asked the BJP and RSS protesters to desist from creating trouble.
"The Sabarimala issue should not be allowed to flare up. The government has no other option but to ensure that the apex court's directive is implemented," he told the media.
But contrary to expectations, no woman aged 10 to 50 was able to make it to the temple, which will remain open for five days.
There was a sit-in protest near the hallowed 18 steps leading to the sanctum santorum, with a banner reading that the traditions of the temple should be maintained.
Traditionalists opposed to the entry of women forcibly turned back a woman from Andhra Pradesh and another who tried to make it to the temple.
During the day, demonstrators clashed on four occasions at Nilackal and Pamba with the police, leaving some protesters and police personnel injured. More than a dozen protesters were arrested.
Similar protests in and around the temple town forced a 45-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh and her family to abandon their trip to the Ayyappa temple.
As angry protesters went after her, shouting and abusing, Madhavi decided to return.
Another woman devotee, Liby, who got down at the Pathanamthitta bus stand and was to board a bus to Nilackal, faced a mob and was taken to a police station for safety.
The police also detained members of the Pandalam Royal and Sabarimala temple Tantri families, including women, taking part in a protest. Their arrests triggered more protests.
On Wednesday morning, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra said there was a very strong police presence in and around Sabarimala.
"None will be stopped nor will anyone be allowed to take law into their hands. Anyone can come and pray," he added. But it did not happen that way.
Barring the Left government, the Congress, BJP and Hindu organisations are on a war path against the apex court ruling.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the issue in Sabarimala was not one of gender equality.
"The CPI-M-led government has not even cared to file a review petition while the BJP and RSS are out to create problems. Here the issue is of faith and traditions," he said.
Earlier, police chased away a group of protesters at Nilackal who were stopping and checking vehicles to see if they had women in the 10-50 age group.
Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham said the police had registered three cases and seven people had been arrested.
The protesters also stopped two women government health officials who were heading for a routine meeting at the temple. They were allowed to go in only after they showed proof that they were aged above 50.
Protesters also shooed away a few women police constables who were trying to go to the temple town.
Some female reporters working for the electronic media were injured when the protesters turned their ire on the journalists. Later, journalists working for Malayalam TV channels also came under attack.
The security forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters in Srinagar's Eidgah area.
Similar protests occurred in Anantnag, Sopore and Kupwara towns.
The police said a youth sustained a pellet injury in his right eye and was being treated at a hospital in Anantnag town.
Police sources said Sheraz Ahmad of Barakpora village, who was injured in the street battles in Janglamandi area, succumbed to his critical injuries in a Srinagar hospital.
Reports said over a dozen protesters had been injured in the clashes. Similar clashes also broke out at other places in the Kashmir Valley.
In Pulwama, a crowd protested against the killing of a nine-year-old boy on Friday in Army firing, the police said.
Youths in Shopian town too resorted to stone pelting.
Clashes took place in Srinagar city's Eidgah area where large crowds of devotees gathered to offer congregational Eid prayers.
Eid prayers were also held at Baramulla, Sopore, Badgam, Kupwara and Ganderbal towns.
"RJD and BJP workers clashed violently by attacking each other with bamboo sticks and pelted stones at each other in which some of them were injured. They also shouted slogans with abusive language against top leaders of the rival party," a police official said.
The clash took place in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters office on the busy Birchand Patel Marg near the IT square in the heart of Patna.
"The two sides clashed for nearly half an hour in the presence of police officials, who hardly intervened initially and did not use force to control the situation. The police became active only after the situation went out of control," an eyewitness, who owns a pavement tea shop, said.
After police dispersed the Rashtriya Janata Dal workers, hundreds of angry BJP workers staged a protest by blocking the Birchand Patel Marg, demanding action against RJD workers.
The protest started when a group of Chatra (student) RJD workers, holding an "Akrosh march" to protest against the IT department raids on 22 locations involving Lalu Prasad, reached near the BJP office. They shouted slogans against the BJP and their leaders. In response, some BJP workers came out of their office and shouted counter slogans.
The RJD workers expressed their anger against senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who has addressed several press conferences in the past one month accusing Lalu and his family of "benami" property and corruption.
Later a group of BJP workers tried to attack the RJD office, located not far away from the BJP office, but police dispersed them.
RJD workers shouted slogans like 'BJP Ki goondagardi nahi chaalegi, Sampardayik aur Fascistwadi BJP hai hai'.
But when BJP workers started shouting slogans like "Lalu Chor hai" "Charaa Chor hai", "Lalu ko jail bhejo", the RJD workers got angry. Some RJD workers pelted stones, as alleged by BJP workers, after which both sides indulged in a free-for-all with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones.
Hundreds of armed police officials were deployed to control the situation, a senior police official said.
Reacting to the violence, Sushil Modi said that RJD goons had attacked the BJP office.
"It clearly shows the desperation of the RJD and its top leaders Lalu and his two sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, both ministers in the Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar," he said.
However, the RJD leaders claimed that a "silent" march of RJD workers was attacked by the BJP near its office.
Authorities here and in all other district headquarters made sufficient deployment of police and paramilitary forces to maintain law and order.
"Adequate deployments of security forces have been made in law and order sensitive areas," a senior police official told IANS.
"No curfew has been imposed anywhere," the official said.
Shops, public transport, other businesses and education institutions remained closed in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the valley although private vehicles movement could be seen on roads.
Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and the Jammu region's Bannihal town have been suspended.
Kashmir University has postponed all exams scheduled for Wednesday.
Three civilians were killed in firing in Durbugh village of Budgam district during clashes between protesters and security forces on Tuesday.
The clash followed a gunfight raging between the security forces and a holed up militant in the village.
Sloganeering against the State government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the mass unemployment of the All Odisha Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) and Diploma in Radiology Therapy (DMRT) students in the State, the agitating students backed by students’ Congress activists congregated near the Raj Mahal square and was heading towards Naveen Niwas when police intercepted them leading to a face-off between the two, reports said.
Meanwhile, police have taken many Congress leaders and protesting students in preventive custody in order to avoid any untoward situation. Many students also sustained injuries during the agitation.
“If the 5-point demands of the DMLT and DMRT students are not fulfilled within seven days, then we will hurl eggs on the CM,” rued former Chhatra Congress president Itish Pradhan.
The agitating students also burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to mark the protest.
“The concerned officials have violated the High Court’s order that came in 2008 and illegally permitted the private colleges, which are not approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to admit students for the medical courses. We want CBI probe into the irregularities and those involved should be arrested,” alleged an agitating student, Bhabani Shankar Mohanty.
“We want that those students enrolled in government colleges shall be given recruitment at priority basis and private medical colleges should be closed down,” said an agitating medical student.
Also Read: Javadekar meets BJP workers in Berhampur
Earlier on August 6, the DLMT and DMRT students along with students’ Congress tried to gherao the Odisha Health Minister, Pratap Jena’s residence. However, they were stopped by the police leading to a clash between the two in the capital city.
“We gave an ultimatum of seven days when we tried to gherao the residence of Health Minister. However, we did not get any response from the department concerned so we decided to take up the matter to Chief Minister,” said a protesting student adding that the protest will be intensified if their demands are not fulfilled at the earliest.
The clash broke out over an issue after the debate show in Tughlakabad area of south Delhi.
Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party pushed each other and pelted stones. Both the parties accused each other of abusing and using derogatory remarks.
The vehicle of an AAP candidate was also torched in the incident. Police immediately cordoned off the area and rushed the injured persons to the hospital.
Police said five persons suffered injuries during the clash. They were also verifying the allegations.
The AAP strongly condemned the clash and said that its members were attacked by the "hired goons" of BJP parliamentarian Ramesh Bidhuri.
"The hired goons of the BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, attacked our volunteers and burnt the vehicle of AAP candidate Sahi Ram," a party statement said.
"The violence unleashed by the BJP on AAP volunteers is a clear indication that it wants to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the national capital ahead of the assembly election," it said.
Ramesh Bidhuri, however said the AAP men attacked his nephew and three BJP members after the debate.
"At least 20 people attacked our men. AAP men have themselves set the car on fire and blamed us for it," Biduri told IANS.
Launched by Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday, the bike rallies are part of the party's nationwide outreach campaign ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
However, in West Bengal, the rallies were denied permission because of board examinations and traffic issues, a senior police officer said.
In Kolkata, police intercepted the rally participants on Central Avenue, Jorabagan, Kakurgachi and other important points, while disruptions were reported from North 24 Parganas, Howrah, West Burdwan, South Dinajpur, Cooch Behar and West Medinipur districts.
Workers of the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress clashed in Baraboni of West Burdwan district during the rally, police said.
BJP leader and Union minister Babul Supriyo, who led the bike rally in Baraboni, accused the police of attempts to stop the event.
"West Bengal Police tried so hard to obstruct BJP's peaceful #VijaySankalpaBikeRally at Amdiha More, Baraboni but how could they have stopped us when we had the support of the people with us??" he said in a series of tweets.
"Log saath aate gaye aur carvaan banta gaya (people kept on joining, and the caravan took shape)".
In West Medinipur's Goaltore area, BJP activists tried to break police barricades, leading to a baton-charge and scuffle, which left several people injured.
"We have detained eight BJP workers," an officer of Goaltore police station said.
In Durgapur, the activists scuffled with police, following which the Rapid Action Force was called in to restore order.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said around 100 such rallies were being organised in Bengal.
"I have flagged off a rally in Durgapur. Workers are being arrested and such arrests will take place everywhere. But we will be successful," he said.
Many polling agents of opposition parties were beaten up, and houses and vehicles of many activists were attacked after voting on Sunday in nine constituencies in the last and seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls and by-elections to four Assembly seats.
Two BJP workers -- Chandal Mondal and Nantu Bera of the Sagar Assembly segment under the Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency -- were admitted to Sagar Gramin Hospital after thrashed allegedly by the Trinamool Congress workers on Sunday night, while they were returning to their homes.
"Two injured persons were rescued from the spot and hospitalised. A complaint has been lodged. No one has been arrested and investigation is on," a police officer said.
Father of a Bharatiya Janata Party worker in the Dum Dum area was stabbed allegedly by Trinamool supporters, said a local BJP leader.
Houses of three BJP activists at Gosaba in the Jaynagar Lok Sabha constituency were attacked by miscreants allegedly backed by Trinamool after the end of voting on Sunday. "Some Trinamool supporters damaged houses of our two activists on Sunday, and that of another workers on Monday," a local BJP leader said.
A clash between the Trinamool and the BJP workers broke out on Monday in Habra's Kultala area of the Barasat Lok Sabha constituency after a polling agent of the BJP was beaten up.
Trinamool, however, accused the BJP local leaders of ransacking vehicle of the party's panchayat leader on Sunday.
CPI(M) activists at Kashipur under the Kolkata North constituency accused Trinamool workers of beating up their polling agents on Monday.
A Trinamool office was ransacked and 10-12 people were injured in a scuffle between two groups of activists in the Maniktala area under the Kolkata North Lok Sabha constituency. They traded charges over bringing outsiders during the vote on Sunday.
"We don't believe in violence and have asked them (activists) to stay calm. A clash erupted due to ego problems among some booth-level workers," state minister Sadhan Pandey said.
Residents of the Bhatpara Assembly seat in North 24 Parganas staged several protests against violent political clashes during by-election on Sunday. The by-election was caused by Trinamool MLA Arjun Singh's defection to the BJP two months ago.
Train services in Eastern Railway's Sealdah-Krishnanagar division were disrupted for two and a half hours after hundreds of residents squatted on the tracks at Kankinara station, protesting against clashes.
The BJP supporters too protested at the Jaggadal police station, accusing security personnel of not being active in providing security to locals.
The BJP fielded Arjun Singh's son Pawan Kumar Singh and the Trinamool, Madan Mitra, an accused in the Saradha and Narada scam, for Bhatpara by-election.
Mitra on Monday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Office, accusing Singh and his team of inciting violence in the area after the vote.
As per sources, the administration had granted permission for establishment of a liquor unit in the area, triggering sharp resentment among local women. Protesting the decision, women in large numbers from Babaji Mathh, Baghabar, Kaloni Sahi and Hada Sanghar villages staged a demonstration. However, as per allegations, the owner of the liquor unit sent goons and attacked the women with stones and sticks leaving many injured.
Sources said that more than seven women were critically injured and had to be rushed to Chhatabar hospital.
As per reports, following a dispute over fishing in Bahuda river, villagers of Rameyapatna and Chandanbada got into a dispute last night which later turned into a violent clash.
Reportedly, swords and other weapons were used in the clash during which seven persons including Rameyapatna Sarpanch P Rameya and a woman from Chandanbada were also injured.
Rameya, who suffered a head injury was admitted to Berhampur hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. Following tension, one-and-a-half platoons of police force were deployed at the spot and section 144 was imposed.
Golantara Police and Sunapur Marine Police have launched an investigation into the case. Sources said a similar incident of violence had erupted two years back.
Speaking on the matter, Berhampur SP Pinak Mishra said that action will be taken all the accused. "A clash had erupted between two groups of Rameyapatna and Chandanbada villages following which six to seven people were injured. We have launched an investigation to take action against the accused. We are also trying to settle the dispute between them," said Mishra.
On April 26, the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) had marked some areas of the city as containment and buffer zones after detection of COVID positive cases.
Though the administration lifted certain restrictions in the buffer zones from Mangal Bhawan to Janta Nivas along the Power House Road and from Madhusudhan Marg to Anand Bhawan Lane on Monday night, it is said that some areas have been indicated as 're-carved contaminated zone' till further orders.
#Rourkela Municipal Corporation declares several areas as 're-carved containment zones' (Point touching Janata Niwas Lane with Mahtab Road & Main Road. Point on main road touching Anand Bhawan Lane. Point touching Anand Bhawan Lane with Mahtab Road). Rest COVID zones DECONTAINED. pic.twitter.com/HqwgN0qoz9
— OTV (@otvnews) May 26, 2020
Protesting this, the residents nearby Mahtab Road staged a road blockade this morning by burning tyres and when police arrived, they resorted to stone pelting, leaving more than 15 cops injured. After a clash erupted, police fired tear gas to disperse the mob. A few locals also protested near Plant site police station, reports said.
Even though the ACP, DIG and other senior officials rushed to the spot to pacify the irate locals, situation remained unchanged. Later, 5 platoons of police force were deployed at the spot to avoid any untoward incident.
https://twitter.com/otvnews/status/1265149868881752065
As per RMC, "The areas out of the previously declared containment zone, except those marked as 're-carved containment zones', are hereby declared as free from restrictions imposed through the containment order. However, the lockdown terms and conditions in the above areas will continue to remain in force and shall be guided as per guidelines issued by the State Government from time to time."
Besides, it is also stated that only vehicles with prior pass/ permission will be allowed for movement in the zones. In order to restrict public movement, police has put up 10 barricades at different places along the road.
(Edited by: Devbrat Patnaik)
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Though the exact reason behind the clash has not yet been ascertained, previous enmity is suspected to be the cause of the attack.
“ We have arrested four prime accused and are interrogating them. We are investigating the case on a priority basis. Prima facie, past enmity is suspected to be the reason. Investigation is underway”, Sambalpur SP KB Singh informed.
The miscreants armed with sharp weapons and sticks went on rampage late night and hacked them with weapons, killing two members of the family. Two others sustained critical injuries and were admitted to hospital.
Police seized the bodies and launched an inquiry by detaining four persons.
The fracas broke out ahead of the party's general council meeting after one group accused the members of another camp of siding with ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
A section of party workers alleged that OBC Cell president of the PCC Bishnu Charan Barik along with his supporters were indulged in anti-party activities by siding with BJD.
Barik and his family members had campaigned for BJD during last by-election to Jagatsinghpur Assembly segment. Due to his anti-party activities, we lost our popular leader Chiranjeev Biswal in the poll. We request the PCC president to remove Barik from the party immediately,” a party worker said.
Situation turned ugly after Barik was vehemently opposed to take part in the general council meeting. A stage erected on the premises of the party office for the meeting has been demolished in the tussle.
On the other hand, Barik has rubbished the allegations levelled against him. "I have no political affiliation with BJD and its leaders. A BJD MLA is the friend of my younger brother. He keeps coming to our house as a family friend," Barik said.
Meanwhile, PCC president Niranjan Patnaik has assured action against the indiscipline workers who have created nuisance.
"We will conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegation levelled against OBC cell president. If he is found to have involved in any such activities that go against the party's interest, action will definitely be taken against him. If anyone has any issues, they should bring their resentment to the AICC and PCC. Indiscipline in any form will be strictly dealt with," Patnaik said.
A detailed discussion will be held in the meeting, he added.
The quarrel reportedly took place in the presence of BJD's Puri MP Pinaki Mishra, Minister Sameer Ranjan Dash and senior BJD leader and former Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty.
According to reports, hundreds of party supporters gathered to commemorate 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's visit to the pilgrim city. Some group of party supporters raised slogans of their party instead of Mahatma Gandhi. Another group opposed such slogan which led to the clash.
Party leaders, however, refuted any dispute among the supporters.
"Some were shouted slogans other than Mahatma Gandhi. I immediately stopped such slogans and suggested them to raise slogans on Mahatma Gandhi. There was small verbal exchange among the supporters. I am unaware of what happened exactly," Minister Sameer Ranjan Dash said.
Former Minister and senior BJD leader Maheswar Mohanty said, "No such incident has taken place. There might be some verbal duel due to heavy crowd. I will look into the matter."