Hundreds of women led by Mahila Congress president Sasmita Behera on Thursday staged a rally here in protest against the spate of child deaths at the Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack and demanding immediate ouster of Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
While the women were marching towards the Naveen Nivas to gherao it, police stopped them at the Shishu Bhavan Square. A faceoff like situation erupted between police and the agitating women for a while. Police then courted arrest them.
“Children are not dying in the Shishu Bhavan rather they are being killed. We want the Health Minister be ousted soon,” said Sasmita Behera.
Among others, PCC president Prasad Harichandan and vice-president Bijaylaxmi Sahoo were present.