Hundreds of villagers of Koleswar gram panchayat led by Sarpanch Amiya Kumar Panigrahi on Friday sat on a dharna in front of the Badamba block office in protest against the alleged irregularities in selection of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna beneficiaries.
Anganwadi employees had submitted a list of 284 persons for PMAY to the block. But the authorities dismissed the names who were not the supporters of the BJD and decided to provide PMAY houses to 78 beneficiaries only, alleged protestors. They demanded that all listed persons be included in the scheme.
In view of tension, two platoons of police force were deployed in the block premises. However, BDO Sadananda Sethi assured that he would consider their demand within a week.