BJD MLA, party workers thrash BJP supporters; case registered

An MLA of the ruling BJD and party activists today allegedly thrashed some BJP supporters for showing black flags to two state ministers during a protest against the Chhattisgarh government in Odisha's Boudh district.
The incident took place at Manmounda area when the two ministers, Sanjay Dasburma and Pushpendra Singhdeo, were on their way to attend a party programme at the district headquarters town of Boudh.
The ruling party was organising the programme in protest of construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh government on the upstream of river Mahanadi.
The police said a group of BJD activists led by party MLA Prashant Jagdev attacked BJP workers at Manmunda where they showed black flags to the visiting ministers. The MLA was also joined by a party corporator.

In the process, three BJP activists sustained injuries, the police said, adding that BJP has named five persons including Sanjay Dasburma, Pushpendra Singhdeo (both ministers), MLA Prashant Jagdev and two others in their complaints.
While BJP activists alleged that there was a murderous

attack on them and that one of the party workers was kicked by BJD leaders on his face and chest after he fell down, BJD leaders in their FIR said they had to act in self defence.
Condemning the incident, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said it was an inhuman and undemocratic act by the BJD.
"We were protesting in a democratic way. They suddenly came out of their cars and attacked our workers. Three of our workers were injured in the attack," said Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Boudh president Narayan Karmi.

Meanwhile, the BJP state leadership has decided to send a team of its legislature party to the spot tomorrow to take stock of the situation.
"A team of the BJP legislature party led by K V Singhdeo will visit the spot at Manamunda in Boudh district tomorrow to take stock of the situation," BJP general secretary Prithivraj Harichandan said.
BJD MLA from Begunia Prashant Jagdev, who led the charge against protesting BJP workers, however, gave a different account of the incident.
"In the name of showing black flags, the BJP activists wanted to kill us. All we did was to act in self defence," he said.

Protesting BJD's attack, BJYM and the BJP women's wing blocked roads at Master Canteen square in the state capital.
The BJP has said its supporters would demonstrate in front of government offices in Boudh tomorrow.