The demonstration was part of the party’s ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’ programme, demanding the formation of a House Committee to investigate the alleged surge in crimes against women.
Watch the video of lathi-charge here:
#WATCH | Bhubaneswar: Protest turns violent as Congress workers clash with Police personnel; Police resort to lathi charge to disperse the protestors
Congress workers are protesting outside Odisha Assembly against the suspension of 14 Congress MLAs from the House; Police use… pic.twitter.com/1D4Js5W5Oi— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025
Police action as protest escalates
The police intervention occurred after the Congress activists broke through a barricade and attempted to breach another on their way to the assembly building.
The situation escalated when demonstrators hurled plastic chairs at security personnel in response to being blocked from advancing.
Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena states that 80 platoons of police were deployed across all routes leading to the assembly. He warned of strict action against anyone violating the law, reported
PTI.
VIDEO | Odisha: Police use water cannon to disperse protesting Congress workers in Bhubaneswar.#BhubaneswarNews #OdishaNews
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/PuVRuI1vUJ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 27, 2025
Detentions and injuries reported
Several Congress leaders, including Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das and former MLA Mohammed Moquim, were detained during the protest. Addressing the reporters, Das affirmed the party’s resolve stating, “We are not afraid of arrests. This agitation will continue.”
He further alleged that multiple party workers sustained injuries due to police action, adding, “Many of our workers have been injured, four of them are in serious condition. I urge the police to arrest them as per law instead of using force.”
ANI footage showed police using water cannons to disperse the crowd, with some protestors sustaining injuries amid the scuffle. Watch here:
#WATCH | Bhubaneswar | Few Congress workers injured as Police resort to lathi-charge to disperse them during their protest outside Odisha Assembly over crimes against women and the suspension of 14 Congress MLAs from the House after they raised this issue
(Note: Graphic visuals) pic.twitter.com/pQSLK8DWa8— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025
The protest follows the recent suspension of 14 Congress MLAs from the House, which has sparked political unrest in the state. The Congress party has vowed to continue its agitation in the coming days.
(With inputs from agencies)Â
