Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 26: Arson and hooliganism by political activists in the state marred a 12-hour all-Orissa bandh called by the Congress Friday in protest over the delay in conduct of the Brahma Paribartan rituals of the Nabakalebara festival at Srimandir.
Agitating Congress activists blocked thoroughfares in the capital city, disrupting traffic and in some cases physically threatening commuters. The activists vandalised a bus, broke window panes of a petrol pump and disrupted train movement between the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
“At least 120 Congress workers were detained at the Reserve Police Ground in the city. A car and a bus were vandalised near Rupali Square and Old Station Bazaar Square, and a motorcycle was torched near Shastri Nagar area,” Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said.
Reports from Jagatsinghpur stated that the block development officer of Biridi block was also attacked by Congress workers at his office.
Some government offices were vandalised in Dhenkanal district while petrol pumps at Chauliaganj in Cuttack and government buses at other places in the district were also attacked by the activists.
“Congress leaders Bhakta Charan Das, Jayadev Jena, Ranjib Biswal and others were detained. They were released in the evening. We will examine CCTV footage of the protesters who were involved in hooliganism and a case will be registered accordingly,” Bhoi added.
At least 60 Congress workers were detained in Cuttack.
Train and bus services were disrupted during the 12-hour shutdown with Congress workers and leaders blocking railway tracks, bus stands and roads at different places, police said.