Alleging police excesses on demonstrating party workers whenthey tried to gherao Odisha Assembly here, Congress today called a state-widebandh on September 10 in protest and demanded a probe by Lokpal or a High CourtJudge into the incident.
Condemning police action on 'peaceful demonstrators' as'barbaric', Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaikclaimed that over 400 party workers including women were injured in lathichargeand force used by cops.
"Police action was unwarranted at a time when seniorleaders were addressing the workers who were protesting against the corrupt andinefficient BJD government in a democratic manner," Patnaik and NarsinghMishra, media cell chairman of the state Congress, told reporters here.
The Congress leaders sought to know as to who directed useof teargas, water canon and batons against protesters who had not even tried toenter the area where prohibitory orders under Sec 144 are in force.
Describing use of force by police as a move to suppresspopular voice and democratic methods of protest, the PCC chief announced an"Odisha bandh" on Monday.
The Congress leaders also demanded an independentinvestigation either by Lokpal or a sitting judge of the High Court intoalleged police excesses against partymen.
Senior Congress leader Soumya Ranjan, who was injured in theincident, claimed that police used force as they were not prepared well tohandle the surging crowd when thousands of Congress workers from across thestate gathered.