Protesters, police clash in Odisha; seek Strimad Dev's arrest

The public ire against self-styled godman has rocked Odisha's Kendrapara town today as protesters, demanding his immediate arrest, fought a pitched battle with police leading to injury on both sides.
The agitators seeking the godman's arrest for his alleged escapades blocked Tinimuhani Chhak, the entry point to the district headquarter town, by burning tyres, a BJP leader claimed.
When police intervened, the protesters clashed with them and threw stones. The pitched battle followed as police resorted to lathicharge, teargas shells and even pelted stones on the agitators, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said.
Television news channels showed police even attacking passers-by, who raised hands above their shoulders as a sign of surrender. They were also shown kicking on shop doors.

Some mediapersons were injured in the clash besides the policemen and protestors, Mohapatra said.
Section 144 was imposed on the entire stretch from Tinimuhani Square in Kendarpara town to Sarathi Ashram in Barimula from 10 am to 10 pm, but it failed to prevent people from continuing their protests as they suspected the police of protecting the accused self-styled godman instead of arresting him, he claimed.

The district administration deployed 20 platoons of security personnel.
Meanwhile, an official in CM's office also said that "Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered the transfer of Satish Gajbhiye from Kendrapara and appointed Nitinjit Singh in his place as the district SP."

Patnaik also directed R P Koche, Inspector General (IG) of police, central range, to rush to Kendrapara and take stock of the situation, the official said.
The chief minister has already ordered a crime branch probe into the charges against Strimad Sarathi Dev and a three-member team has reached at the godman's ashram and has begun investigations.