Bhubaneswar, Mar 27: As many as 12 police personnel were injured as Congress protesters scuffled with them at the Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

"12 police personnel have been injured. They all have been admitted to hospital. Protestors also tried to set a police vehicle on fire," said Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.

According to the information, Police resorted to a lathi charge, used a water canon and fired tear gas to disperse the protestors as the protest turned violent. They also pelted stones and chairs at the security personnel. The Congress protesters tried to break the police barricade and head toward the Assembly, which was in session.

"Protestors tried to break the barricade, they pushed the police officers as well. So police took legal action against them. Currently, the situation is normal...Police personnel are deployed outside the State Assembly. 12 Police officers have been injured, and some of the people from the crowd have also sustained injuries. All are being treated at Capital Hospital," said DCP Jagmohan Meena on the Congress agitation.

As per the party's call, Congress workers staged a rally on the Gandhi Marg to register its protest against the suspension of 14 MLAs from the House.

Meanwhile, the BJP has criticized the BJP for staging a violent agitation in the capital city.

"Congress should introspect why people rejected them. As an opposition party, it is their duty to oppose but resorting to such practices without any basis is not right. The BJP condemns it," said BJP Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal.

 "Today the State is burning for women issues. They (BJP) want to run the Government in an undemocratic way." says Congress MLA Sofia Firdous.

It may be noted that all 14 Congress MLAs have been suspended from the State Assembly for seven days for their "misconduct and unruly" behaviour in the House. Speaker Surama Padhy took the action as the opposition MLAs continued their protest by beating Ghant, Gini and Turi and wearing black badges and clothes.