By Bizodisha Bureau, December 21, 2016 : Normal life was hit on Wednesday here with activists of the ruling Biju Janata Dal [BJD] and Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] clashing here during the 12-hour Bhubaneswar bandh called by the saffron party.

The party was observing Bandh demanding resignation of city Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena’s for his alleged link in the murder of engineering student Asutosh Mohanty alias Rishi.

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.

Twin City Police Commissioner YB Khurania and Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi reached the spot. Several BJP activists were later arrested.

This apart, a few BJP activists were taken into custody. “We were observing peaceful protests across Bhubaneswar. But, the police allowed another similar rally of BJD to foil our protest. It was done at the behest of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,” BJP General Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said.

About an hour later, activists of the two parties locked horns at Ram Mandir Chhak and hurled stones at each other as BCJD members allegedly thrashed a BJP activist.

Moments later, the two groups clashed at Sriya Talkies Chhak during which a bike was set on fire.

The saffron party workers were also seen picketing and blocking roads by burning tyres at Khandagiri, CRP Square, Jaydev Vihar, Kalpana Square as a result of which vehicular movement was affected for a while.

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.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reached secretariat at 11.15 am amid tight security.

“Violence was reported at 2-3 places. CCTV footage of these incidents will be examined and action will be taken accordingly,” said Twin City Police Commissioner YB Khurania.

“As many as 25 platoons of police force have been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident. We have detained about 50 BJP workers. We will examine CCTV footage of ransacking by BJP workers and action will be taken against those involved in it,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi.