Paradip, Nov 23: As the Congress party is divided over the arrest of senior party leader Bapi Sarkhel in connection with the murder of Seaways Shipping general manger Mahendra Swain, the port city on Tuesday witnessed a rally protesting a bandh call given by the leader’s supporters. While opponents of Sarkhel demanded his ouster from the party, the supporters opposed them and staged demonstration at several places of the port town. In the morning, about a hundred of Sarkhel’s opponents, under the banner of Paradip Nagar Yuva Congress took out a bike rally from the party office to Manijanga Square. The sloganeering activists of the party demanded that the arrested leader should be removed from the party for his alleged involvement in the murder of Swain. In some parts of the town, similar incidents were noticed. On the other hand, protesting the rally of Sarkhel’s opponent group, a group of youths staged demonstrations at Kujang and Rahama. Besides burning the effigies of Excise minister Damodar Rout, Congress leaders Chiranjeev Biswal and Ranjib Biswal, the youths staged road blockade in some places. No cases of violence have been reported. Meanwhile, police has sent Swain murder case prime accused Rakesh Choubey to Samagol jail after his remand ended today. Earlier in the day, Choubey was produced in Kujang court.
