Odisha clashes: Tytler booked; Congress files counter FIR

Senior Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Niranjan Patnaik were on Saturday booked by the police for the clash between party supporters and policemen during a rally that left over 260 people injured here, with the Congress filing a counter FIR against BJD President Naveen Patnaik and the police.

"Cases have been registered against several Congress leaders including state Congress in-charge Jagdish Tytler and Niranjan Patnaik on charges pertaining to Thursday's violence," Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitinjeet Singh said.

Singh said five cases have so far been registered at the Capital police station and Kharavel Nagar police station while efforts were being made to identify those responsible for the violence.

The charges were criminal conspiracy, rioting, causing grievous injury, endangering lives of others, outraging modesty and mischief under IPC and Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act, police sources said.

While over 34 persons have been arrested for the violence and attack on a woman constable, who was critically injured, more arrests were likely after identification of culprits from CCTV footage, Assistant Commissioner of Police Nihar Das said.

The Congress filed a counter FIR against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who is the Biju Janata Dal president and the police for attack on party men and for trespass in Congress Bhavan.

"We have filed two FIRs at the Capital police station seeking action against the people who assaulted our party men and forcibly entered our party headquarters," OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik said.

Demanding a judicial inquiry, Tytler said, "Let them do what they want, but there is a rule of law after all. Law will take care, the judge will also be there. Let them do the inquiry, let them do a judicial inquiry. Everything will be clear, whose conspiracy was it and whose isn't."

The OPCC chief alleged that the chief minister conspired to foil the Congress rally on September 6.

"Instead of arresting our people who broke the cordon, police beat them up mercilessly," Patnaik said, adding he welcomed the government action and was ready to face it.

OPCC General Secretary Satyabrata Patra said cases should be registered against the police and the BJD president under different sections of the IPC including section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).

Commissioner of Police Sunil Roy said, "We have received two FIRs from the Congress leaders. The allegations are being examined and we will take steps as per the law."

Thousands of Congress workers clashed with the police on on Thursday while trying to picket the assembly building demanding ouster of the chief minister over coal-gate.

The ruling BJD on Satutday held a protest dharna here during the day with the Biju Yuva Janata Dal, Biju Mahila Janata Dal and Biju Chhatra Dal and several MLAs participating.

BJD's women wing president Pramila Mallick condemned the assault on the woman constable. "We demand stringent punishment to those who assaulted her."

The state commission for women has started a probe into assault on the constable and the Odisha Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the police seeking a report.

 The Congress has given a call for an Odisha bandh on Monday against alleged police excesses at the rally.