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Congress agitation peaceful

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: The planned agitation of Congress activists before block offices at Hinjli and Chikiti in Ganjam district on Monday passed off peacefully amidst heavy police presence.

The police and administration had taken extra precaution for these agitations after the violent situation at Kavisuryanagar two days ago during a similar agitation by the Congress. Like Kavisuryanagar the Congress activists were led by former State Finance Minister, Ramkrushna Patnaik at Hinjli. It was a worry for the police and administrative officials as Hinjli happens to be the home constituency of Chief Minister BJD chief Naveen Patnaik. Moreover after being expelled from the BJD the former Finance Minister has joined the Congress to become the main detractor of the BJD chief.

Fifteen platoons of policemen, three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), one Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and 10 inspectors were deployed near the Hinjli block office. The Congress activists were to hand over a memorandum demanding resignation of BJD-BJP Government to the local Block development Officer (BDO). Due to continuing rain there were only over 200 Congress activists for this demonstration. They were outnumbered by the police. As per reports Ganjam District Collector V.K.Pandian and Superintendent of Police R.K.Sharma were also present at Hinjli. But they preferred to remain at the local tehsil office rather than coming near the block office. To the respite of officials every thing passed off peacefully and the agitators dispersed without any untoward incidents.

Addressing his supporters Congress leader, Mr Patnaik alleged that the BJD was using police to suppress the peaceful agitations by Congress workers against the wrong deeds of the ruling party. Similarly at Chikiti the number of policemen deployed near the block office despite heavy rain outnumbered the Congress demonstrators. Here also these agitators led by the former Speaker Chintamani Dyansamantra handed over a memorandum addressed to the Governor to the local BDO.

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