Bhubaneswar, March 26: Bhubaneswar’s Master Canteen Square turned into a battlefield on Tuesday as Odisha Congress legislators clashed with police following the suspension of 12 party MLAs from the state Assembly.

Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy suspended 12 Congress legislators for seven days, citing misconduct and violation of House norms. The suspension followed a protest by Congress leaders, who beat gongs and traditional musical instruments inside the Assembly while demanding a House committee on women’s safety. They accused the ruling BJP of failing to curb rising crimes against women over the past nine months.

Tensions escalated as the suspended MLAs spent the night inside the Assembly chamber before being forcibly removed by security forces. They alleged being denied access to basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets.

Senior Congress leaders, including PCC President Bhakta Charan Das, Narasingha Mishra, Niranjan Patnaik, and Jayadev Jena, attempted to meet the suspended MLAs but were detained by police, triggering a face-off between Congress workers and law enforcement personnel.

Amid escalating chaos, the agitating legislators broke Assembly gates and barricades, shouting slogans and displaying placards. BJD MLAs also joined the protest, breaking barricades and marching onto the streets. The situation turned violent as clashes erupted between police and the protesting legislators.

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