Protestors hurl eggs at Odisha minister’s vehicle

Bhubaneswar, Sep 13 (PTI) A group of protestors, allegedto be associated with BJP, allegedly hurled eggs at thevehicle of Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathynear Bolangir town tonight. The incident, which took place as the vehicle stopped neara level crossing at Satapada, about one-and-half-km from thedistrict headquarters town of Bolangir, was aired by differentTV channels though Maharathy himself pleaded ignorance aboutthe incident. The Minister was later taken to the town through adifferent route, Bolangir SP Asish Kumar Singh said. He said at least eight persons have been detained oncharge of attempting to hurl eggs at the minister’s vehicleand also showing black flag to him. "We are verifying whether the persons detained belonged tothe BJP," Singh said to allegations by a section of BJD thatthe protestors were from BJP. The minister is scheduled to preside over the BolangirDistrict Planning Board meeting tomorrow. Earlier on August 28, Maharathy had dared BJP to throweggs or tomato at him during his visit to Bolangir. "I will ensure that no BJP minister enters my Pipiliconstituency," Maharathy had said. Maharathy’s constituency was located between the statecapital and Puri. Therefore, anybody going to visit SriJagannath Temple needed to cross Pipili to reach Puri. The BJP activists across the state have been protestingvisit of Odisha ministers in different ways after UnionMinister and senior BJP leader Santosh Gangwar’s vehicle wasattacked at Bargarh in June. PTI AAM SUSSMJ