Puri, Nov 26: Today a police van was set ablazed by the locals here when a clash erupted between the locals and the cops at the Charichhak bazaar near Nimapara here. Hence, a prohibitory order under section 144 of Cr PC has been clamped in the area.
It’s stated that the market area at the Charichhak turned into a violent battleground today morning when the locals started hurling stones at the security personnel and had also set the government vehicle on fire after police allegedly lifted social activist Santosh Pradhan forcefully, who sat on a fast-on-to death over disrupting health services in the area. Notably, Pradhan was on a hunger strike ahead of the Charichhak Community Health Centre (CHC) from Nov 18 thus demanding the fulfillment of the 8 demands which also included the filling of doctor’s posts in the local health center. Discussion were held three days ago with Pradhan by the district administration and the local MLA, who had requested him to withdraw his strike. But Pradhan remained adamant and did not withdraw his strike unless the said demands were fulfilled.
Nimapada SDPO Arun Jena and local sub-collector also met him yesterday and requested him the same, saying that his health condition has been deteriorated. The cops had requested the social activist to have food and water but he refused. Hence his health condition worsened and he has been admitted to the district headquarters hospital here.
