Odisha Health Minister has eggs, tomatoes hurled at him

Sambalpur/Berhampur(Odisha), Jan 5: A day after eggs and tomatoes were hurled at the car of Odisha Minister Sanjay Das Burma at Chhatrapur, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak faced similar protests in Deogarh today.

Nayak was proceeding from Sambalpur when some miscreants hurled eggs and tomatoes at his vehicle at Korad near Deogarh this afternoon.

The minister, however, escaped unhurt, police said. Meanwhile, three Congress supporters, including a student leader of Science College, Chhatrapur, were arrested during the day in connection with the attack on Das Burma at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district yesterday.

Arun Nayak (19), dramatic secretary of Science College, Chhatrapur along with N Hadu Reddy (34) and Kalia Roul (33), a contractor were arrested for their involvement in the incident, said Inspector in-charge of Chhatrapur police station, BP Patra.

The trio was booked under different sections of the IPC, Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act and Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) Act, he said.

The case was registered against them on the basis of FIR lodged by the minister's piloting officer, Ram Chandra Behera.

Ganjam district Congress Committee president Bhagaban Gantayat condemned the police action and said they were demonstrating in a democratic manner to protest against "massive irregularities" in National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the district.

"In a democratic set up, they (the youths) have the right to protest. We demand release of the arrested persons and withdrawal of cases registered against them," he said.

Eggs and tomatoes were hurled at the vehicle of Das Burma near Chhatrapur Science College when he on way to attend the golden jubilee function of Berhampur University.

The demonstrators also showed black flags to the Minister in protest against the alleged massive irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries under NFSA.

PTI