Other States - Orissa   

Lawyers, BJD workers clash

BHUBANESWAR: Lawyers and workers of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) engaged in a ‘violent’ scuffle leading to lathicharge by police at Sambalpur after a 12-hour-bandh by lawyers of Western Orissa reportedly made an attempt to prevent party workers from attending a farmers’ rally on Sunday.

All started in the morning when hundreds of BJD workers from Sundargarh, Deogarh and Jharsuguda districts could not move further on their way near to Bargarh, the venue of farmers’ meet, near the bridge on Mahanadi River, on the outskirt of Sambalpur. About 200 lawyers blocked the National Highway 6 demanding establishment of a permanent High Court bench.

When party workers insisted that the road should be made free for them, it triggered arguments and then pelting of stones. In the meantime, some local people also joined lawyers.

As the situation appeared to slipping out of control, police force arrived on the scene. It resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse people. In the melee, about 40 persons were injured. Several vehicles were damaged in the stone-throwing. Shops and business establishments in Sambalpur and a few other Western Orissa towns were closed in response to the bandh call. According to reports from Sonepur district, lawyers also came in confrontation with BJD workers at a few places.

The bandh call, which coincided with the BJD’s rally, was given after lawyers rejected Naveen Patnaik-led government’s decision to form a commission to explore possibilities of setting up a permanent bench of High Court. Lawyers termed it a delaying tactic.

Last month, lawyers from 10 western Orissa districts laid a siege on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, to put emphasis on their long-standing demand during budget session of Assembly.

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