Bhubaneswar, June 30: Hundreds of Congress workers today clashed with police at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district while trying to force their way into the district collectorate to highlight the problem of rising unemployment in the state.

The state youth Congress had called the protest, which was held all over the state.

In Bhubaneswar, youth Congress activists organised a motorcycle rally to highlight the issue. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan, former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and senior congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra also took part in the rally.

The BJD denounced the attempt to ransack the district collectorate in Baripada.

"The demonstration should have been held in a peaceful manner," said BJD spokesperson Dibya Shankar Mishra.

The PCC today also announced a 12-hour bandh in Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput districts on July 2 to protest against the arrest of former Nabarangpur Congress MP Pradeep Majhi.

Terming the state government as anti-tribal, PCC president Prasad Harichandan said: "It's unfortunate that the police arrested our leader Pradeep Majhi on charges of attacking the forest range officer of Raighar. The police accused him of ransacking his office during a rally at Raighar. Is it a crime demanding forest rights act for tribals? He has not done any wrong."

Harichandan also wanted to know from the government whether it was a crime to demand land pattas for tribals under the Forest Rights Act.

"I am yet to know what wrong Majhi has done," he said.

Majhi is on a hunger strike in the jail in protest against his arrest. His hunger strike entered its fifth day today.