According to reports, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) members took out a bike rally from Vani Vihar to Master Canteen protesting the BJP’s bandh call. As the BCJD members reached Master Canteen, a scuffle ensued between them and BJP activists who were staging road blockade there.
On being informed, Twin City Police Commissioner YB Khurania and Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi reached the spot. Several BJP activists were later arrested, sources said.
This apart, a few BJP activists were taken into custody by cops while they were trying to ransack city buses at Master Canteen. As many as 20 activists were detained from Fire Station Square while they were attempting to stop vehicles.
The saffron party workers were also seen picketing and blocking roads by burning tyres at Khandagiri, CRP Square, Jaydev Vihar as a result of which vehicular movement was affected for a while.
Many students were unable to reach schools as school buses remained off the road. On the other hand, exams in BJB College here which were earlier scheduled to to be held today were deferred.
Emergency services, trains, hospitals and medicine shops were excluded from the purview of the bandh.
In view of the bandh call, security arrangement was tightened at the State Secretariat. Employees of the secretariat were asked to reach office by 9.30 am. It was decided to close the main gate of the secretariat at 10.15 am. Special Secretary of the Home Department had yesterday issued a letter to all departments in this regard.
As many as 25 platoons of police force have been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident, said Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi.