Bhubaneswar witnessed high-voltage political drama on Thursday as Congress workers clashed with the police during a protest march aimed at ‘gheraoing’ the Odisha Assembly. The demonstration, organized to demand action on women’s safety and governance issues, quickly spiraled into chaos at Lower PMG Square.

Violence Breaks Out Amid Protest

Tensions flared as protesters allegedly hurled stones, bricks, eggs, tomatoes, and water bottles at the police. Some even threw chairs, turning the protest site into a virtual battleground. In response, security forces resorted to a mild lathi charge, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the agitators.

Congress Stands Firm Despite Suspension of MLAs

Amid the turmoil, Congress leaders continued their vocal dissent. With all Congress MLAs suspended from the Assembly for a week over previous disruptions, party members took their fight to the streets.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das reiterated their demand for justice, stating, "We are protesting for women's and students’ safety. If the government fails to act, we will continue our agitation."

Cuttack Barabati MLA Sofia Firdous slammed the government, citing recent incidents, including the rape and murder of a girl in Phulbani and the death of two children after consuming Anganwadi sattu.

Heavy Security Deployment Around Odisha Assembly

Despite the ruckus outside, the Odisha Assembly’s proceedings continued uninterrupted. Anticipating disruptions, Commissionerate Police had deployed 80 platoons of security personnel, including 10 platoons of women officers, to maintain law and order.

With the Congress intensifying its attack on the government, the political battle in Odisha shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon.