BJD LEADERS HURT; NAVEEN CONDEMNS POLICE 'EXCESS'

As several BJD workers and leaders, including two former ministers, were injured in a scuffle with police personnel here Wednesday during the party’s protest over the death of a college student following selfimmolation in Balasore, BJD president and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the police ‘excess’ and described the action as ‘barbaric and inhuman’.

- PNN & AGENCIES

The BJD’s demonstration turned violent near the Lower PMG Square when its workers and leaders breached a barricade to march towards Lok Seva Bhavan and clashed with the police personnel.

Though police said they used water cannons and fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitators, the injured BJD leaders claimed that they were hit by rubber bullets.

Naveen 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.”