Sambalpur, July 11: A group of workers belonging to the BJP Yuva Morcha today barged into the National Urban Livelihood Mission's office in the civic body's complex.

The youth wing members entered the mission office protesting against the arrest of those ineligible women, who were availing themselves of ration cards under the National Food Security Act. Police were rushed to the spot and 10 youth wing members were detained.

The youth wing members took out a rally and staged demonstration outside the corporation office, while ineligible beneficiaries were surrendering their ration cards. Later, the agitating members barged into the mission office and stalled the procedure.

An eyewitness said: "The agitating members of the BJP's youth wing broke a laptop and threw some official papers during the protest."

The youth wing's vice-president Rudra Sarangi, however, refuted the allegations. He said: "A mob had rushed into the office when members of the BJP Yuva Morcha were staging the protest, and they had nothing to do with it. The laptop might have fallen at that time."

Sarangi said: "The government had issued notifications and distributed the ration cards to people after proper verification. However, officials, who had issued the ration cards, are now telling the beneficiaries that they are ineligible. They have started arresting people, including women. It is sheer injustice. We want the administration to refrain from arresting innocent people."

"Authorities are now arresting people after holding them responsible for managing to get the ration cards. Surprisingly, the government officials, who issued the cards after thorough verifications, are not being held responsible. The officials should have properly verified before issuing the cards. It was their responsibility to check whether the beneficiaries were eligible," said Sarangi.

"Instead of arresting innocent people, officials should verify the list of beneficiaries and take back the cards from those who are not eligible," said another agitator affiliated to the youth wing.

Sub-divisional police officer B.G. Mohanty said: "We have detained 10 workers of the BJP Yuva Morcha. We are also investigating whether the workers had damaged the corporation's property."

The district administration officials said nearly 1,250 persons, who are not entitled to receive ration cards, have already surrendered it. Criminal action was initiated against 30 beneficiaries, mostly women, who had not returned the cards.

It has already been made clear that criminal action would be taken against ineligible persons, who have not yet surrendered the cards to the authorities.