Police detained at least 45 Congress activists today while they were preparing to hold demonstration during Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to the holy town here, the police said.
Congress and two local outfits opposed Patnaik's visit in protest against the state governemnt's alleged failure in managing affairs of the Shree Jagannath Temple, IG of Central Range Soumendra Priyadarshi said
He said, Patnaik was in the city to attend the fourth and final Ratha Yatra coordination committee meeting here.
The IG rejected claims by Congress activists that they had thrown tomatoes at the chief minister's carcade while it was passing through Chakratirtha Road near the RTO office here.
"We have verified the claim and found that no tomato was thrown at the CM's carcade," Priyadarshi said adding the chief minister had reached the venue safely without any untoward incident.
Earlier in the day, several activists of Lulu Sena and Jagannath Sena were also detained by police as they held protests against the chief minister's visit.
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