Odisha violence: Cops book Jagdish Tytler, Congress leaders for clash

BHUBANESWAR: Police on Friday booked senior Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler, Niranjan Patnaik and others in five different cases pertaining to the previous day's clash between Congress supporters and security personnel here. Police also arrested 34 people on charges of being involved in the violence that left scores, including Congress activists, cops and mediapersons, injured.

As the Opposition Congress and ruling BJD resorted to a blamegame over Thursday's bloodletting, police registered five cases (four at Capital police station and one at Kharvela Nagar police station) and intensified efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for the mayhem. Cases were lodged under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt), 333 (causing grievous hurt), 336 (endangering lives of others), 337 (causing hurt), 353 (assault), 354 (outraging modesty), 431 (mischief by injury), 437 (mischief to destroy), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and section 3 and 4 of Prevention of Destruction of Public Property (PDPP) Act.

"We have registered different cases against Congress leaders, including Jagdish Tytler and Niranjan Patnaik," DCP Nitinjeet Singh told TOI. "The complainants are inspector-in-charge, Capital police station; woman constable Pramilla Padhi, who was brutally assaulted; security officer of the pilot squad, who were attached to provide security to Tytler; a local resident, whose house was invaded and ransacked by Congress supporters; and a mediaperson, whose camera was stolen," he added.

In a related development, Congress has demanded an inquiry into Thursday's incident either by a sitting high court judge or the Lokpal.

AICC general secretary in charge of Odisha Tytler said, "The BJD was doing all this to defame us. Shame on those who are accusing our workers of being drunk. Why did the police not arrest those who were inebriated?"

Reacting to the filing of cases, state Congress president told TOI, "The BJD government has been misusing the administrative machinery and attempting to stifle democracy. Legally and politically we will fight it out."

Stating that people are deeply shocked by this violent incident, CM Naveen Patnaik said, "Odisha is a state known for its peaceful atmosphere. Such violence should be condemned."

While Congress has given a call for Odisha bandh on September 10 protesting the alleged police excesses, BJD announced it would hold a convention at Exhibition Ground here on Saturday condemning Congress' bid to disrupt peace in the state. "All frontal organizations of our party would jointly organize the event to remonstrate against the Congress' bid to create law and order situation, especially by targeting women, in the state," BJD youth wing chief Sanjay Dasburma said.