A local court today granted bail to Talcher MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan, who was arrested two days ago on charge of involvement in violence in the district's coal belt.
Additional District Sessions Judge Kiran Kumar Patnaik granted bail to Pradhan.
The district administration, however, continued with the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in view of the prevailing situation.
"The prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC, which was clamped on Sunday, will continue till tomorrow morning in the Talcher Municipality, South Balanda, Dera and Handidhua areas", said Saraoj Samal, sub-collector of Angul district.
Besides Pradhan, three others were injured when retrenched workers and people from nearby villages, allegedly led by the MLA, clashed with the local contractor's men at the railway siding of the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL)-run Jagannath Colliery on Friday.
The district police had taken 89 people, including the legislator, into custody and allowed the contractor to resume work at two railway sidings on Thursday.
The issue of the MLA's arrest rocked the state Assembly today as opposition MLAs demanded formation of a House Committee under the chairmanship of the Speaker.
While three separate batches of Congress leaders, including seven MLAs, met Pradhan in the jail during the day, Congress activists staged demonstrations at different places of Angul district.
