Tension prevailed in Khariar town in Nuapada district following opposition by the Dalit communities to the Bharat Bandh organised by non-Dalits under the banner of the General and OBC Sangathan on Tuesday.
When the Sangathan announced a Khariar Bandh on Monday evening supporting the call of Bharat Bandh on social media, the dalit communities announced that they would oppose it. Consequently, volunteers of the Sangathan were hackled by those of the dalit communities in the morning while picketing and stopping movement of vehicles.
The National Highway (NH) in front of the police station became a battleground due to hurling of abuses and sometimes pelting of stone chips at each other in the presence of police personnel, including the SP, a magistrate and other district-level officers. At one moment, the police were forced to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the demonstrators. Two police officials and a few other people were injured due to stone-pelting.
While “Jai Sriram” was the slogan on one side, the rivals shouted “Jai Bhim”.
leaders of different political parties were conspicuously absent during the bandh. Groups of demonstrators were still picketing on the NH till this report was filed.