With Odisha ministers facing protests by supporters of Opposition parties over some issue or the other, the state government today placed two police personnel including an inspector under suspension.
While Deogarh IIC Sudarshan Jena has been suspended by Director General of Police (DGP) K B Singh, DSI of Health minister Atanu S Nayak's pilot vehicle in-charge Narayan Sahu was suspended by Deogarh district collector, officials said.
Nayak's vehicle was hit by eggs and tomatoes during his visit to Deogarh district yesterday. Both have been suspended on grounds of dereliction of duty, they said.
Meanwhile, the Police have arrested six Congress workers including the party's Deogarh Town Committee president Subash Bhoi and Deogarh Municipality councillor Dharmendra Debata on charges of pelting eggs and tomatoes on the Health and Family Welfare minister's vehicle.
While Nayak faced the ire of Congress activists yesterday, food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Dasburma also encountered similar protests at Puri and Chhatrapur on January 3 and 4, respectively.
The protests also continued today when school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra was shown black flags by the members of the women Congress in Sambalpur.
Though Mishra claimed he had not seen any black flag, the Police said Congress activists waved black flags after the minister left the venue.
As protests were being mounted by Congress activists over alleged faulty selection of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), officials said the state government has asked the Police to remain extra vigilant during visits of ministers to the districts.
