Bhubaneswar: Eight NSUI Activists Detained for Assaulting Police During Demonstration
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Synopsis
On January 31, police in Bhubaneswar arrested eight NSUI members, including their president, for attacking law enforcement during a protest against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The incident occurred during heightened security measures in the city as Bhagwat visited for an event. The activists faced multiple charges and were remanded to judicial custody.
Key Takeaways
- Eight NSUI members arrested in Bhubaneswar.
- Udit Pradhan, NSUI president, among the detained.
- Protest against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat turned violent.
- Police faced threats and assaults from demonstrators.
- Accusations include rioting and criminal force against officials.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (NationPress) - On Friday, the police in Bhubaneswar apprehended eight Congress activists, including Udit Pradhan, the head of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) for Odisha, following allegations of assaulting and threatening law enforcement during a protest against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Mohan Bhagwat on January 30.
The accused NSUI members, affiliated with the Indian National Congress (INC), have been identified as Udit Pradhan (27), Hemanta Pradhan, Aditya Ansaman Patra, Sahil Mohanty, Chandan Sahoo, Sidhanta Om Prakash, Tapas Dey, and Auro Kumar Nayak.
On Thursday, heightened security measures were implemented by city police in anticipation of Bhagwat's visit to an event from Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti at Mancheswar to Jaydev Bhawan in Unit-IV.
The police noted, “Mohan Bhagwat, who enjoys Z+ category security, was under strict protection. At approximately 6:05 p.m., over 20 NSUI members, led by Udit Pradhan, unlawfully congregated near Blue Wheel Hospital Chowk, brandishing placards and black flags, chanting slogans like 'Mohan Bhagwat, Go Back' as Bhagwat's motorcade passed,”
According to police sources, officers from Mancheswar Police Station present at the location intervened, requesting the Congress workers to disperse for security reasons.
However, the NSUI activists disregarded police requests and attempted to breach the police cordon to supposedly detain and harm the RSS chief.
The demonstrators allegedly became aggressive, using offensive language, issuing threats, and assaulting police personnel when law enforcement attempted to disperse them.
“With substantial effort, the police detained Udit Pradhan and seven others, confiscating a black Scorpio (Regd. No: OD-02-DB-1110) utilized by them, while other members fled,” a police source disclosed.
The detained NSUI members are reported to have applied criminal force against police officials in their attempt to evade custody.
The Mancheswar Police subsequently registered a case (41/25) against the eight NSUI members under sections 191 (rioting), 132, 121(1), 296, 351(3), and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Additionally, the police confiscated a Bolero vehicle used by the accused NSUI members.
The eight activists were presented in court on Friday and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
It’s noteworthy that the Congress party is protesting against Bhagwat due to his statements suggesting India’s “true independence” was realized with the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
