BHUBANESWAR: Stepping up protest against Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena for his alleged involvement in an objectionable video clip, NSUI and Youth Congress activists clashed with police at Rajmahal square here on Tuesday.
Following the fist off with cops, State president of NSUI Itish Pradhan and Youth Congress working president Lokanath Maharathy sustained minor injuries and were admitted to the Capital Hospital.
Police sources said the activists were intercepted at Rajmahal Square because there was an input that they would march towards the Mayor’s quarters at Unit I and create a law and order issue.
Earlier in the day, five masked youths hurled eggs at Jena’s official residence. Jena was strolling in the garden when he spotted the youths flee after hurling eggs and shouting slogans against him.
Speaking to mediapersons at the hospital, Pradhan said he was on his way to depose before Capital police which issued notice to him a few days back. ‘’I was going to the police station to give my statement on the video clip which allegedly features Mayor Jena. The police action was unwarranted,’’ he said.
In another development, Pradip Pandey who claims to be the proprietor of Niakhunta.com, appeared before Capital police. The controversial clip was first posted on Niakhunta.com and later circulated on social media.
Meanwhile, a 13-member team of the BJP, which went to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat over the issue, was refused audience with the CM.