Tension gripped coal town of Talcher on Sunday after sitting MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan was sent to jail in connection with his alleged involvement in labourers’ unrest that led to burning of 50 vehicles at Jagannath coal siding in Mahanadi Coalfield Limited.
The Angul district administration has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in Talcher Muncipality area and 10 coal mining sites, including at Jagannath, South Balanda, Dera, Handidhua, Anant, Lingaraj and Bhubaneswari. As many as 19 platoons of police personnel were deployed in Jagannath coal siding to keep the situation under control.
After apparently getting credible evidence against Mr. Pradhan, Angul police arrested him from Bhubaneswar where he was attending winter session of Assembly. He was produced before Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody.
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Labourers have been agitating protesting their retrenchment in loading and unloading activities in coal sidings of MCL in Talcher area.
On Wednesday last, labourers staged protest at Jagannath coal siding near Talcher.
The district police had taken more than 80 persons, including Mr. Pradhan into the custody, in connection with the protest. However, the police released them later.
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On the next day, infuriated labourers led by the MLA marched towards siding in Jagannath Colliery.
The labourers soon turned violent and started torching vehicles mostly two wheelers. Within hours, over 50 vehicles were gutted.
“Keeping in view the brewing tension, we had sought cooperation from the MLA. Instead, he chose to create law and order situation which led to burning of around 50 vehicles and ransacking of the general manager’s office on the premises of Jagannath Colliery,” said Angul Superintendent of Police Narasingh Bhol
“We have received complaint about his involvement in the violence. During the investigation, we have got proof of his hand in the incident,” he said.
“After we got evidence against the MLA, we arrested him. We had suspected the arrest would further deteriorate law and order situation in the area. Our fear came true.
Last evening miscreants were planning to set the conveyor belt at Bharatpur siding on fire and it would have impacted coal supply to National Aluminum Company Limited’s facility.
The police reached the spot in time and managed to prevent the loss,” the SP said.
Reacting to the arrest of Mr. Pradhan, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Jayadev Jena said, “nobody can take the arrest of an MLA easily especially when Assembly is in session.
The MLA has been associated with the people for long. He has been fighting for engagement of local people in industrial projects, which is a just demand. We will take up the issue in different fora.”
Due to disruption in coal supply, the power production in NTPC’s facilities has already affected.