Odisha Bandh: Scuffle in Bhadrak as Protesters Clash with Police
A clash erupted in Bhadrak between INDIA bloc protesters and police during the Odisha bandh. One person has been detained following the incident.
Tensions flared in Bhadrak on Thursday as a minor scuffle broke out between police and protesters during the statewide Odisha bandh. The confrontation occurred while INDIA bloc workers were blocking National Highway 16 to demonstrate their grievances, leading to the detention of one individual.
The Confrontation on National Highway 16
The chaos unfolded as demonstrators attempted to halt traffic on the major highway. According to law enforcement officials, the situation escalated when a protester allegedly targeted a high-ranking officer. Bhadrak Additional SP Anshuman Dwivedi confirmed that the scuffle was triggered by an act of physical aggression against a police officer on duty.
"There was a minor scuffle. We are talking to them," Dwivedi stated. He further clarified that the incident involved the City DSP, noting, "During the course of duty, someone grabbed the collar of the policeman—our City DSP. So they have taken him away to the police station."
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
While the police maintained that the detention was a response to an assault on an officer, protesters offered a vastly different version of the events. Demonstrators claimed the protest was being conducted in a disciplined and peaceful manner until a vehicle driver attempted to breach the blockade.
A protester present at the scene alleged that the conflict began when a driver tried to force his way through the crowd. "A man came in a vehicle. He tried to forcefully drive through with his vehicle. Our protesting brothers stopped him," the protester explained.
The protester further claimed that the police intervention was immediate and one-sided. According to their account, when a protester questioned the driver about the bandh, the driver shoved the individual, prompting the police to immediately seize the protester and move him to the station. "At that very moment, claiming that an attack was made on him by our person, the police took our man away," they added.
Demands Fueling the Statewide Shutdown
The Odisha bandh, organized by the INDIA bloc, is part of a larger political movement with several high-stakes demands. The protesters are calling for:
- The immediate withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2026.
- The resignation of the state's Education Minister, Nityanand Gond.
- The resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar.
As the shutdown continues across the state, security forces remain on high alert to prevent further escalations and ensure the movement of essential services on major transit routes.