Bhubaneswar: Despite the ongoing Assembly session and a three-tier security arrangement, Congress workers managed to reach the east gate of the Assembly, raising serious questions about police security. The security arrangements are being overseen directly by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
At 7 PM, Student Congress workers staged a mock funeral of the Chief Minister on Gandhi Marg. However, the police only reached the spot after 9 PM. Later, the PCC President, along with senior Congress leaders, drove straight to the Assembly’s east gate and attempted to enter the premises. Police stopped them, leading to a face-off between Congress workers and the police.
The Congress workers then sat in protest at the location. Later, the police forcibly removed them but allowed their vehicles to enter. This raises the question—who gave permission for their vehicles to enter?
Security Measures in Place
To ensure Assembly security, the Commissionerate Police has set up a temporary control room on Gandhi Marg, where the Deputy Commissioner’s temporary office is also functioning. Police patrols the area day and night, and the entire Assembly perimeter is secured. CCTV cameras are installed, and plainclothes intelligence officers are deployed. Additionally, a special police division under an Additional DCP-level officer has been assigned to prevent such incidents.
The Big Question: How Did They Reach the Gate?
Despite all these security arrangements, how did Congress workers reach near the Assembly gate? This has now become a major point of debate.
While Congress workers were leaving in their vehicles, what was the police doing? Inside the Assembly, opposition leaders continued their protests, while outside, workers clashed with the police. The incident has exposed serious law and order lapses.
Despite spending lakhs of rupees on security, including iron barricades around the Assembly, the Congress workers’ movements and plans should have been known to the police. Special officers were assigned to monitor opposition protests, yet it took two hours for the police to learn that opposition leaders had reached the Assembly gate.
This incident highlights a major intelligence failure and calls for an immediate investigation.