Bhubaneswar, Sept. 13: Police today provided Z-category security to former Union minister Jagdish Tytler, who is in the eye of a storm over the September 6 violence during a Congress rally in the city, though chief minister Naveen Patnaik said action against the culprits would be taken according to law.

Though securitymen were conspicuous by their absence at Biju Patnaik airport yesterday when Tytler, who is in-charge, state Congress affairs, arrived in the city, the security protocol was back in place for him today. Several police associations had threatened to boycott Tytler’s security duty in the wake of the violence during which a lady constable was beaten up, but today they were persuaded by the department’s higher-ups not to shirk their duty.

Deputy commissioner of police Nitinjeet Singh said they “had to do their duty”.

A Congress delegation, led by Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan pattnaik, today met governor M.C. Bhandare and demanded a probe by the Lokpal into the violence during the rally. “The police attacked our party activists in which more than 1,000 people were injured. We demand an impartial probe by the Lokpal,” said Congress spokesman Narasingh Mishra.

On the other hand, Naveen today made his first statement on the violence. “Action against those responsible will be taken as per law,” he said.

The violence during the rally had left more than 300 people, including 60 police personnel, injured. The police, who lodged eight cases against Congress leaders, including Tytler and Pradesh Congress Committee president in connection with the violence, last night released photographs of the 36 people involved in the mayhem on Mahatma Gandhi Marg that day.

The Congress activists targeted even his personal security officer, a policeman in the rank of assistant sub-inspector, and damaged a police vehicle stationed on the premises of Congress Bhavan. Tytler’s personal security officer lodged one of the eight cases filed against the Congress leaders.

The Congress president questioned the propriety of police associations, including the state IPS body, asking for action against Tytler and other Congress leaders. “Is it right on their part to take such a political stand?” he asked.