Protestors hurl eggs at Odisha minister's vehicle

Bhubaneswar, Sep 13: A group of protestors, alleged to be associated with BJP, allegedly hurled eggs at the vehicle of Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathy near Bolangir town tonight.

The incident, which took place as the vehicle stopped near a level crossing at Satapada, about one-and-half-km from the district headquarters town of Bolangir, was aired by different TV channels though Maharathy himself pleaded ignorance about the incident.

The Minister was later taken to the town through a different route, Bolangir SP Asish Kumar Singh said. He said at least eight persons have been detained on charge of attempting to hurl eggs at the minister's vehicle and also showing black flag to him.

"We are verifying whether the persons detained belonged to the BJP," Singh said to allegations by a section of BJD that the protestors were from BJP. The minister is scheduled to preside over the Bolangir District Planning Board meeting tomorrow.

Earlier on August 28, Maharathy had dared BJP to throw eggs or tomato at him during his visit to Bolangir.

"I will ensure that no BJP minister enters my Pipili constituency," Maharathy had said. Maharathy's constituency was located between the state capital and Puri. Therefore, anybody going to visit Sri Jagannath Temple needed to cross Pipili to reach Puri.

The BJP activists across the state have been protesting visit of Odisha ministers in different ways after Union Minister and senior BJP leader Santosh Gangwar's vehicle was attacked at Bargarh in June.

PTI