Post News Network
Puri: Eggs and tomatoes were pelted at the vehicle of supply and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma allegedly by some activists of the district Congress near a special circuit house here Sunday.
The Congress activists were protesting the absence of action against several elected representatives whose names were included in lists of beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA), sources said. There were minor face-offs between the Congress activists and the supporters of the minister during the incident. Police registered a case in this connection.
After addressing a press conference at the circuit house, Das Burma went to Swargadwar and returned to the circuit house half an hour later. It was at this time that the Congress activists hurled eggs and tomatoes at his vehicle, forcing the minister to rush into the circuit house. On being informed, SP Asish Kumar Singh and DSP Gyanranjan Mohapatra rushed to the spot.
The minister declined to comment on the incident despite repeated attempts. City DSP Prabhat Kumar Routray said a case has been registered against the Congress activists and a probe has been initiated into the matter.
Gross irregularities found in the distribution of ration cards under NFSA in the district had enraged the Congress activists. Ration cards were issued in the names of government employees and elected representatives in the district.
While action was taken against two anganwadi workers for having ration cards issued in their names, a police official was suspended for the same offence. However, no action has been taken against a zilla parishad vice-chairman, four block chairpersons, four councillors of Puri Municipality and several sarpanches for inclusion of their names in the NFSA beneficiaries’ lists, alleged the Congress activists.