Bargarh: Tension ran high after the police allegedly lathi charged some unarmed youths protesting the undeclared power cut at Pradhanpali grid here late Sunday night.
The youths alleged that they were protesting over the undeclared power outage at Rail Station Pada, College and adjoining areas at 11 pm Sunday when the police arrived at the spot and cane charged them.
They sustained injuries in the incident but the police instead of taking them to hospital detained them in the police station. The police also snatched their mobile phones, bike keys and cash in their possession, the victims alleged.
Town police IIC Bibhuti Bhushan Bhoi rejected the charges stating the youths have been detained over a complaint filed by the executive engineer Bibhuti Bhshan Satapathy of Pradhanpali grid.
Satapathy alleged that the youths during the demonstration snapped the power supply to other grids in the area.
The youths were let off on personal bail bond after MLA Devesh Acharya and sub-divisional police officer Suresh Kumar Nayak intervened. Locals alleged that power cut has become routine in the area with energy department officials turning a blind eye to their problem.
PNN
