The activists of Mahila Congress on Thursday tried to march towards Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's residence demanding the sacking of Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy in connection with Pipili rape and murder case but were stopped by the police.
While the Congress women activists were marching towards the CM's residence, the police intercepted them at Sishu Bhavan Chhak leading to a scuffle, a police officer said.
About 500 activists were taken to preventive custody and later released, the police said.
Odisha Mahila Congress president, Sumitra Jena said one woman activist was injured in the scuffle and admitted at the Capital House.
"Unless Maharathy is removed from the ministry, we will continue our agitation. The Crime Branch and police have failed to collect evidences against the culprits and now they are exerting their power on the agitators," said Mahila Congress leader, Bijayalaxmi Sahoo said.
The BJP Mahila Morcha had also held demonstration on Tuesday and Wednesday demanding the removal of Maharathy
The women activists of both the opposition parties have been demanding the sacking of Maharathy from the ministry over his controversial remarks "hailing" the acquittal of Pipili gang rape and murder case accused persons.
A 19-year-old dalit woman was raped in 2011 and she died in 2012 in Pipili area.
A court in Bhubaneswar on December 24, had acquitted the two accused persons in the case. Maharathy had "welcomed" the judgement and also claimed that the victim got justice as the accused got acquittal.
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