Berhampur, March 11: Leaders and workers of the Congress today staged a rally, demanding the release of former MLA Ramesh Jena, who had been arrested in connection with several criminal cases.

The 3-km-long rally from the Congress Bhavan to the office of the inspector general of police (southern range) was organised by the district congress committee. A delegation of party leaders also submitted a memorandum addressed to governor S.C. Jamir through inspector general Amitav Thakur and demanded Jena's immediate release.

Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati led hundreds of party workers, including Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Bikram Panda, who gheraoed Thakur's office as well.

Describing the cases against Jena as false, Bahinipati said: "We will hit the streets and tell people about the BJD government's unscrupulous intentions. We will continue the movement till Ramesh Jena is released. We will also take up the issue in the Assembly when it resumes on March 15."

The police arrested Jena, who is facing more than 40 criminal cases, on March 7 and also seized unlicensed weapons from his residence. At present, Jena is in police remand. The cops have also arrested his father.

Bahinipati accused chief minister Naveen Patnaik, director-general of police and the inspector general of police of conspiring against Jena to demoralise the Congress and its workers in view of the forthcoming panchayat elections. He also said the cops were working as BJD agents.

"Jena's popularity in the Hinjili constituency, represented by Naveen Patnaik, is growing," said Bahinipati.

Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra, on the other hand, appealed to the youths to get ready for a bigger fight.