Bhubaneswar: Security was tightened in Bhubaneswar and about 40 Youth Congress workers were taken into custody by the police on Thursday ahead of the 12-hour Odisha bandh called by Congress on Friday.
The YC workers were arrested when they violated prohibitory orders under 144 CrPC and marched towards Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik demanding dismissal of Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo, Commissioner of Police RP Sharma said.
They were also demanding an open apology from the chief minister over the violation of the centuries old tradition in Shri Jagannath temple during the ‘Brahma Parivartan’ ritual a few days ago.
More than a hundred party workers had launched a motor-cycle rally from Congress Bhawan to Naveen Niwas and also burnt effigies of the chief minister and law minister, holding them responsible for the mismanagement of the rituals at the 12th century shrine.
Anticipating untoward incident during the bandh, the police has thrown a security blanket around the CM’s residence.
A total of 30 platoons of policemen will be deployed in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for maintaining law and order in view of the shutdown call given by the Congress, Sharma said.
While security for the chief minister’s carcade and residence has been increased, two platoons of policemen are deployed at the official residence of the law minister.
Security arrangements have also been made at the residence of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration chief minister Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma’s residences, police said.
The Congress has called the state-wide bandh tomorrow to protest against the mismanagement during the Brahma Parivartan ritual of Lord Jagannath and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Prasanta Patnaik