A large number of Congress workers led by PCC president Prasad Harichandan and State Mahila Congress president Sasmita Behera on Wednesday gheraoed the SP office here in protest against the arrest of 16 party men, including Angul district president Pratap Pradhan, during the 12-hour bandh on Tuesday.
Party workers hurled eggs at police personnel and also blocked the NH 55 in front of the SP office. The SP office gate was closed for six hours due the demonstration. Massive police forces were deployed there.
“The BJD Government has failed to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute issue. When the Congress exposed the inaction of the Government, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik used police force against the Congress workers and arrested them,” alleged Harichandan. He demanded unconditional release of the party workers. later, he met the Congress workers at Angul Jail.