Cuttack, Nov. 3: Police have begun an investigation into the alleged ransacking of property by some councillors during the council meeting of the municipal corporation on October 31.

Cuttack Municipal corporation (CMC) commissioner Gyana Das had lodged a formal complaint with Purighat police against the vandalism by councillors last night.

"According to the direction of the presiding officer (mayor), we have lodged a complaint in connection with the damage to property inside the CMC council hall," said Das.

Official sources, however, said no councillor had been named in connection with the vandalism and ransacking of CMC property at the venue.

Councillors of the ruling BJD and the Congress had traded abuses over alleged irregularities in the preparation of the list for the new digitised ration cards under the National Food Security Act. They had raised slogans and had allegedly hurled glasses, cups and microphones at each other. Two CMC officials had sustained minor injuries in the fracas.

"We will examine the statements of those present during the council meeting and register a case if any cognisable offence is found," said inspector in-charge of Purighat police station Tapas Pradhan.

Das said that the corporation was contemplating installing closed-circuit television cameras inside the conference hall. A final decision will be taken after the council approves the proposals in the next meeting.

Mayor Anita Behera said since both sides were involved, no names were mentioned in the police complaint. "It was unfortunate and we will ensure that such incidents do not recur," she said.

The Congress councillors today submitted a memorandum to the revenue divisional commissioner. "The CMC council was stopped midway following the unrest and subsequently, certain proposals were passed by the council in an undemocratic manner in the absence of the Opposition," said Giribala Behera, the Congress councillor from ward No. 4.

Behera alleged that though several councillors had boycotted the meeting after the fracas, the BJD councillors continued the meeting without informing the Opposition members in clear violation of the norms. "The police complaint is a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to defame the Congress and cover up the irregularities in the preparation of the ration card list as many eligible beneficiaries have been excluded," she said.

"We demand an urgent CMC council meeting over the issue," said Arun Sethi, the Congress councillor from ward No. 18.