Balasore, December 6 (odisha.in) Former Balasore MP and Congress leader Kartikeswar Patra has called ‘Bhogarai bandh’ on Friday in protest against the alleged police lathi-charge on flood-hit farmers of Bhogarai block.
Describing the indent as unfortunate, he condemned the police excesses. “After Hirakud, for the second time within a month the police have shown their mussel-power on the poor farmers in the coastal district. We won’t tolerate it,” he said.
“The state government has broken its promise and failed to distribute required quantity of seeds to the farmers. When the later demanded their share they had to experience the police excesses. This is how our government is running,” Patra claimed.
District Congress Committee (DCC) president Jaynarayan Mohanty also has blamed the police for this shame act and demanded action against the officials concerned.
On Tuesday, at least three policemen, including S Barik, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Jaleswar had sustained
injuries when irate farmers pelted stone inside Bhogarai block office during distribution of paddy and groundnut seeds.
While alleging irregularities in the distribution of seeds block Congress president Dibyendu Panigrahi and local leader Harendra Das alleged that the farmers were aggrieved after the police restored to lathi-charge, the police were not ready to buy their claims.
Denying the allegations Balasore SP Yashwant Kumar Jethwa clarified that there was no lathi-charge on farmers. “Rather the farmers were chased after they assaulted police and government officials during the distribution of seeds,” Jethwa added.
Police sources said, sensing trouble during the distribution police were deployed at the block office. “The farmers pelted stone at the officers and police when the block officials failed to meet their demands,” said Bhogarai OIC Parshuram Sahu.
On Wednesday, ADM Sribatsa Jena and additional SP P K Das rushed to the spot and discussed the matter with the farmers. “I suggested them to share the available seeds and accordingly the farmers then were provided seeds. The process was smooth,” Jena said.
“Now the situation is under control. The condition of the cops is normal and out of danger,” added the SP.
Odisha.in