Nilagiri: Even as tension prevailed on the premises of Nilagiri sub-divisional court over the administration’s initiative to remove makeshift huts of stamp vendors, local MLA Sukanta Nayak and tehsildar Sushrita Tudu had a verbal confrontation Friday.
The MLA and his supporters opposed the eviction drive, saying the administration should have made rehabilitation of stamp vendors before beginning the eviction drive. He along with his supporters sat on a hunger strike in front of the Sub Collector’s office.
Nayak also alleged that local tehsildar and additional tehsildar had misbehaved with him during the protest. In the afternoon, officials with the help of earth movers pulled down makeshift huts used by stamp vendors to run their business.
The MLA rushed to the spot and inquired about the matter. He asked the tehsildar why she had removed the huts without ensuring rehabilitation of stamp vendors. This resulted in a spat between the officials and the MLA.
Balasore sub-collector Nilu Mohapatra, Nilagiri sub-collector Harishchandra Jena, project administrator of ITDA Kishore Panigrahi and a platoon of police rushed to the spot.
The MLA, his supporters and stamp vendors were sitting in a hunger strike when the last reports came in.