BURNING ISSUE: Tyres set on fire to enforce road blockade in Berhampur on Tuesday.

BERHAMPUR: The NH-5 was blocked at two places near Golanthara for some six hours on Tuesday following a clash between BJD and BJP supporters. The activists clashed inside the Golanthara police station in the presence of Ganjam ZP chairman and BJD leader Dharanidhar Behera and State BJP Yuva Morcha president Bibhuti Jena.

Supporters of both the political parties reached the police station in relation to cases registered against each other. An altercation between them led to the clash inside the police station premises.

`Transfer inspector'

The BJD supporters later blocked the NH-5 in front of the police station and burnt tyres demanding the arrest of Mr. Jena. They also sought the transfer of inspector in-charge of the police station H. Tarai, who according them was supporting BJP supporters. The BJP activists, too, burnt tyres and bullock carts and blocked the highway a km away from Golanthara village.

BJD MLA of Berhampur R.C.C. Patnaik and senior leaders of the BJP like Sisir Padhi had to rush to the area to pacify the activists.

With the mediation of DSP Dhananjay Jena, both the warring groups relented. They lifted the blockade only after the police promised to investigate into the allegations made by the groups. Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Behera alleged that Mr. Jena and his supporters were involved in terrorising villagers after the BJP ZP candidate from the zone was defeated in the panchayat polls. Mr Jena, too, demanded the arrest of Mr. Behera on the charge that he and his supporters were involved in antisocial activities in the area.

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