Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 26 (HBTV): Following the suspension of 12 Congress MLAs from the Odisha Legislative Assembly, two more party MLAs were suspended on Wednesday, leaving the party without representation in the House until the suspensions are lifted.

The Congress leaders were protesting in the Assembly over alleged atrocities against MLAs, spending the night on the premises. The party also alleged that their leaders were assaulted while being removed from the Assembly premises.

Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has also boycotted the assembly session, leaving only Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in the House. However, the BJD was protesting over a different issue related to OBC reservations, which also led to clashes with security officials.

The suspended Congress leaders reportedly clashed with police officials as they attempted to enter the Assembly. Visuals from the scene showed officials setting up multiple layers of barricades, though Congress leaders managed to breach the first layer of security.

Continuing the protest, Congress state in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu told ANI: 'Our MLAs had been demanding answers from the Chief Minister on atrocities against women in the state. Twelve MLAs were suspended from the Assembly only because they raised this issue. This is the murder of democracy. We will fight strongly. The CM will have to answer this.'

On March 25, Congress leaders had spent the night inside the Odisha Assembly, demanding the formation of a House Committee to investigate the alleged atrocities against women. However, officials later removed the protesters from the Assembly premises, prompting them to continue their sit-in outside the state Congress office.

Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati alleged that he was assaulted while being removed from the premises.

'A House Committee should be formed. They are afraid to do so because the truth will come out. When I was there, they hit me and others too. I have never seen anything like this in my life. I have not seen police enter the House and assault us. We have been suspended for seven days. Yesterday, 12 MLAs were suspended,' Bahinipati told ANI.

The police also detained several Congress leaders following the clashes. (ANI)