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Protests over alleged rape of Anjana Mishra rock Orissa

Widespread protests, demonstrations, burning of effigies and road blockades were organised yesterday in Bhubaneshwar, in protest against the alleged gang-rape of Anjana Mishra on Saturday.

At least three members of the Bharatiya Mahila Morcha, the women's wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party, were arrested while they were protesting against the incident in front of the official residence of Chief Minister J B Patnaik. The vehicle of the Orissa Works Minister Harihar Swain was attacked by the demonstrators.

Biju Janata Dal and Janata Dal activists also blocked the main road leading to the Biju Patnaik airport. The chief minister, who landed in Bhubaneswar yesterday evening from Delhi, had to be taken home by another route.

However, BJP sources claimed that over a hundred of their women activists were rounded up and that the BMM president Soorama Padhi and secretary Nivedita Pradhan were injured during the demonstration.

In yet another incident, BJD activists held a protest meeting and blocked the national highway for more than three hours near the CRP area. The party activists also burnt the effigy of the chief minister in protest against the incident.

BJD sources said the police arrested many of the top leaders of the party, but released them later.

UNI

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