Protesters demanding jobs attack Odisha minister's home

Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: The home of Odisha Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das was vandalised on Friday by relatives of those who died while working for his department, the police said.

Agitating family members of deceased employees of the energy department entered the house of the minister and broke window panes, smashed flower pots and damaged some furniture, according to the police.

Thirty people were detained by the police, but the minister said he would not register any case against them.

About 300 people, whose relatives died while working at different electric supply units, have been on a dharna here demanding jobs on compassionate grounds.

A protester said they had been demonstrating peacefully for the last four months without having received any positive response from Das.

"When the government became a silent spectator to our sufferings, we had no option but to take this route."

The minister said the government was taking steps according to gazette notification and following legal procedure to compensate the affected families.

The agitators had on Thursday burnt the effigy of Das and had their heads shaved as a mark of protest.

IANS