Bhubaneswar:
In a significant and assertive move, Odisha Governor M C Bhandare has ordered a Lokpal probe into the incidents of violence during the September 6 Congress rally in Bhubaneswar in which over 250 people, including 60 police personnel, were injured.
The order from the Raj Bhawan came in response to a petition by the Odisha Congress three weeks ago, demanding an impartial probe into the incident. The Congress which is the main opposition party in the state had called an Odisha Bandh on September 10 to protest police excesses against their party workers and leaders.
The violence following the Congress rally had drawn public outrage after visuals were aired showing a woman constable being assaulted by a section of the mob - something that the Congress says was designed to divert attention from the unprovoked and cruel police crackdown on a peaceful rally.