Bhubaneswar: The Mahatma Gandhi Marg turned into a battleground on Thursday as thousands of Congress workers clashed with police during the party’s Assembly gherao protest. The demonstration, organized to demand a House Committee investigation into rising crimes against women under the BJP-led Odisha government, quickly escalated into violence.
Tensions flared when police attempted to stop Congress leaders and supporters from marching toward the Assembly. Protestors broke security barricades and resorted to stone pelting and chair throwing, prompting law enforcement to respond with baton charges. Police also deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das claimed several party workers sustained injuries during the crackdown.
Several senior Congress leaders, including OPCC chief Bhakta Charan Das, state in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, former MLA Mohammad Moquim, and others, were arrested. Meanwhile, at least 12 police personnel were injured in the stone pelting and are currently receiving medical treatment. Some journalists covering the protest also sustained injuries.
According to Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena, protestors attempted to set a police vehicle on fire, but the driver managed to prevent the incident.
Earlier in the day, Congress leaders led a rally from Ram Mandir Square to Lower PMG Square, where they held a public meeting condemning the BJP government over rising crimes against women. After the speeches, protestors attempted to breach police barricades to reach the Assembly.
Though the first security barrier was broken, the police dispersed them with baton charges. Protestors later regrouped, hurling stones and chairs at the police, leading to the use of water cannons and tear gas.
The standoff lasted for about an hour before the police successfully cleared Mahatma Gandhi Marg of demonstrators.
