Patnaik condemns police 'excess' as BJD leaders injured during protest rally over student's death

Bhubaneswar: Several BJD workers and leaders, including two former ministers, were injured in a scuffle with police personnel here on Wednesday during the party's protest over the death of a college student following self-immolation in Odisha's Balasore district.

The BJD's demonstration turned violent near the Lower PMG Square when its workers and leaders breached a barricade to march towards the state secretariat, Lok Seva Bhavan, and clashed with the police personnel, an officer said.

The police used water cannons and fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitating BJD workers, he said.

However, the injured BJD leaders claimed that they were hit by rubber bullets, an allegation dismissed by the police.

"The allegation is untrue. The police used water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. There was no use of rubber bullets as alleged," Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena told PTI.

BJD president and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on the other hand, strongly condemned the police "excess" and described the action as "barbaric and inhuman".

He said such brutality on peaceful protesters is not acceptable.

Taking to X, Patnaik said, "The right to democratic protest is under grave threat in #Odisha. Today, the @bjd_odisha exercised its constitutional right to hold a peaceful demonstration, protesting the tragic death of a 20-year-old girl student -- a victim of systemic apathy and sheer betrayal."

"As BJD leaders marched in a disciplined manner towards Lok Seva Bhawan, the police unhesitatingly used water cannons to disperse the peaceful crowd. Shockingly, they even fired rubber bullets without any provocation," he added.

However, Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo claimed she was hit by a rubber bullet and lost consciousness for some time.

"The police resorted to brutality without provocation," she alleged.

Former minister Sudam Marndi alleged that party leader Priti Ranjan Gharai was also fired with rubber bullets and was admitted to a private hospital.

Former minister Pranab Prakash Das was also admitted to a private hospital after sustaining severe injury on his leg, BJD said in a statement.

Patnaik, who was also in charge of the home department for 24 years during his tenure as chief minister, alleged that the police used heavy-handed tactics to sabotage the BJD's peaceful march.

"Police acted in a blatantly partisan manner, rushing to fire rubber bullets when there was absolutely no justification for such excessive force," he said.

He claimed that just a few days ago, a senior IPS officer was caught on camera near the chief minister's residence instructing his force to break the legs of protesters and promising rewards to those who achieved this feat.

"Today, the legs of two former ministers have been broken, probably requiring surgery," Patnaik said, adding that a woman MP and several party workers have been brutally assaulted by the police.

"Clearly, the government owes an explanation for this kind of directive," he said.

Patnaik said the BJD will continue its fight until justice is served for the college student who lost her life.

"Neither water cannons nor rubber bullets can weaken our resolve. Let it be clear: no force can stifle our commitment to stand up for justice and uphold the democratic rights of the people of #Odisha," he said in a social media post.

Patnaik spoke to MP Sulata Deo, former ministers Pranab Prakash Das and Priti Ranjan Gharai over the phone and inquired about their health and wished them a speedy recovery.

Commissioner of Police S Dev Datt Singh, however, said, "The police have worked under the framework of the democratic system. We respect people's liberty and therefore reacted to the situation in a controlled manner. The police have taken action to uphold democracy, used water cannon and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd."

The commissioner of police said that a political party was given permission to hold a protest at Lower PMG Square but not to march towards Lok Seva Bhawan.

After the police used water cannon and tear gas shells, the BJD workers left the place and some of them, around 100 people, were detained and taken away from the agitation site, an official said.

The BJD held the protest, demanding a judicial inquiry into the death of the college student, who set herself on fire over alleged denial of justice in a sexual harassment incident.

Earlier, security was strengthened at the Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar in view of the BJD's protest over the college student's death in Balasore district.

Security was also tightened in other government buildings in the city, including Rajiv Bhavan and Kharavela Bhavan, which are located in the vicinity of the state secretariat, police said.

The employees were allowed to enter the secretariat after thorough verification of their identities, officials said.

Entry of visitors has also been restricted, they said, adding that people having prior appointments were, however, being issued entry passes on the recommendation of the departments concerned.