Brake Failure of Police Vehicle Sparks Tension During Bharat Bandh Protest in Rayagada

Rayagada: A major mishap was narrowly avoided in Odisha’s Rayagada district on Thursday after the brakes of a police vehicle reportedly failed, causing it to roll into a group of protesting labour activists at Siriguda Square on the outskirts of the town.

The incident took place amid demonstrations linked to the Bharat Bandh. The vehicle suddenly moved forward and ran over chairs arranged for labour leaders, triggering panic among those gathered at the protest site. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, though several chairs and materials at the venue were damaged.

Tension at the spot eased after Rayagada Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gaurahari Sahu and Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Prasanna Behera reached the scene and held discussions with the protesters.

Meanwhile, bandh supporters staged road blockades at Kapilas Square and Siriguda Square, disrupting traffic on National Highway 326 along the Rayagada–Koraput and Rayagada–Brahmapur routes. Hundreds of trucks and buses were left stranded, leading to significant traffic congestion in the area.