The ruling BJD in the State seemed to be in no mood to digest the BJP workers’ ‘black flag protest’ against Ministers as they continued thrashing the saffron party’s workers on Saturday.

A day after many BJP activists were severely thrashed by a BJD MlA and workers while showing black flags at Ministers Sanjay Dasburma and Pushpendra Singh Deo at Manmunda in Boudh district, irate ruling party workers on Saturday physically attacked BJP workers in Angul while the latter were protesting Minister Dasburma’s visit by waiving black flags at him.

Angul Superintendent of Police (SP) Kavita Jalan sustained injuries in her left hand in the clash between the workers of the two parties.

The clash erupted when the BJP workers protested Dasburma’s visit in front of the Angul Circuit House. The Minister was in the town to attend the BJD’s demonstration against the Chhattisgarh Government’s construction of barrages upstream Mahanadi.

However, police detained around 50 BJP workers, including former MP Rudra Narayan Pany and lulu Amanta.

“They (BJP) are trying to divert the Mahanadi issue. Instead of protesting against the unilateral decision of the Chhattisgarh Government, they are busy in worthless affairs,” said Dasburma.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Saturday observed a 12-hour bandh in Boudh district protesting the attack on its workers by BJD leaders and workers at Manmunda.

Though vehicular movement was normal, Government offices across the district remained closed as BJP activists picketed in front of the offices.

Several BJP leaders and workers staged dharnas in front of the offices of the Boudh Collector and SP.

Senior party leader KV Singh Deo too visited the injured at the hospital in the district and said the party activists would sit in front of the Boudh Collectorate until the accused BJD MlA and others involved in the attack are arrested.