BJP delegation attacked, dozen injured

BHUBANESWAR - At least a dozen political activists and media persons were injured when a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation was attacked by a mob in Orissa’s Jajpur district Monday, the party’s state unit chief said.

The incident occurred when state BJP president Jual Oram, along with his party workers, was on his way to meet tribals displaced by a road project at Kalinga Nagar industrial complex, some 100 km from here.

“The miscreants had come with sharp weapons, attacked our people and damaged our vehicles,” Oram told IANS.

Amulya Kumar, a journalist who suffered multiple injuries, said: “At least three media persons, who were trying to take photographs, were injured in the attack.

“They also damaged our cameras,” he said.

The authorities last week started construction for a common corridor road amid tight security in the industrial area as the project is opposed by local tribals.

Oram had gone to the site on a fact-finding mission.

“The attackers were locals and were opposing Oram’s visit to the area,” a senior police official said, adding that two people have been detained for the incident.