During Utkal Divas celebration at Bargarh by the district administration, the supporters of separate Koshal State showed black flags as a mark of protest. Collector Anjan Kumar Manik and SP AK Singh were the guests on the dais.
Police arrested 50 persons, including leader Sunil Purohit. The supporters of the Koshal State hoisted black flags in the morning at Hatpada as well, but the police interference foiled the move.
In Sambalpur, a group of people led by Dr Jaydev Meher also observed Odisha Diwas as black day in front of the office of the Collector. In a meeting, they spoke on the negligence made to this region by successive Governments in the State and opined that a separate State is the only solution. PNS