Cong activists held for trying to show black flags to Odisha Chief Minister

Bhubaneswar: More than 20 Congress activists were today taken to custody while attempting to show black flags to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Cuttack. Patnaik visited Cuttack this morning to attend a function at the National Law University amidst tight security as Youth Congress workers were ready to protest his visit at different corners of the city. The agitators were, however, arrested before the chief minister’s cavalcade passed through the agitation sites. Police arrested the Youth Congress activists and seized black flags from their possession minutes before the CM’s arrival, said a senior police officer claiming that the visit was almost peaceful. “Though the chief minister visited the city, he did not visit the Dalit victim who is struggling for survival at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack,”, said Congress activist Santosh Bhol. [caption id=“attachment_189866” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“More than 20 Congress activists were today taken to custody while attempting to show black flags to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Cuttack. Reuters”]  [/caption] The agitation over the alleged rape and attempt to murder of the Dalit girl of Pipili is gradually intensifying with different political parties, women organisations, tribal and Dalit bodies holding demonstrations at different places of the state under the banner of Gana Samaj. Around 13 non-BJD political parties and mass organisations held a massive demonstration here demanding CBI probe into the case. “We have submitted a memorandum to the President of India through Governor of Odisha seeking her intervention and justice to the rape victim,” said prominent Dalit leader Bhajaman Behera after participating at the massive rally here. Demanding CBI probe, the agitators mostly women, shouted anti-Naveen slogans and sought his resignation as the home minister. “As Patnaik is the home minister, he is responsible for the harassment suffered by rape victims,” said Mamata Samantray, a woman activist. They also demanded formulation of a special mechanism to deal with the rape cases as the state had been experiencing about 1,000 rape incidents every year. PTI