Bhubaneswar, Nov. 5: A scuffle broke out between residents protesting against the construction of a medical college and police today at Baligulai village under Puri Sadar police station.

The villagers are demanding relocation of the construction site, as it covers a graveyard, road and water bodies.

"We are not against the setting up of the medical college. We are only demanding relocation of the construction site. The government must consider our demand and set up the college somewhere else," said a villager.

The police had enforced Section 144 of CrPC to maintain law and order and ensure the construction went smoothly. However, protesters, mostly women, defied those orders, which led to a scuffle with the police.

The state government acquired 25 acres for the proposed 200-bed medical college, which is being jointly financed by the Centre and state government.

The protesters threatened to intensify their agitation if the state government failed to address their grievances. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the college in July.

"There are other sites in the Puri-Konark area, which could be used to set up the college. The district administration wanted to start the construction despite our opposition. This shows their apathy towards our demands," said another agitator.

The villagers blocked the Puri-Konark highway, disrupting vehicular traffic, after the cops arrested some women for disrupting peace and violating Section 144 of the CrPC.

However, the authorities managed to start work on the project. "We have asked the protesters to discuss the matter with the district administration. But we cannot allow them to disrupt law and order at the site," said additional superintendent of police Jagannath Pradhan.

Last month, the district administration suspended construction at the site following another agitation by the residents.

A meeting between the villagers and district administration officials had failed to resolve the situation.