File photo of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
A state Congress student leader was jailed on Friday for allegedly being involved in an incident of throwing eggs at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's convoy on February 19.
Satyajit Patnaik, president of the Odisha unit of the NSUI -- Congress's student wing the National Students' Union of India -- was sent to judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected.
He was arrested on Thursday night for allegedly throwing eggs at the cavalcade of the chief minister, who was on his way to attend the annual function of the Students' Union of Utkal University at Vani Vihar campus.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyabrat Bhoi said a total of 16 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident and some more would be in police custody soon.
Police have slapped Section 307 (attempt to murder) against the arrested people.
However, the arrests were condemned by state Congress leaders even though the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) maintained that they were arrested as per the law of the land.
"The ruling BJD is trying to suppress the movements of Congress workers. The arrest of the students is politically motivated," said senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik.
BJD leader Sashibhusan Behera said the incident had nothing to do with the party and police have arrested the Congress workers following the law.