Keonjhar: To protest against Sunday night's attack on mass education minister Badri Narayan Patra, his supporters blocked the national highway near Anandpur Township on Monday.

In the incident that took place on Sunday night, the minister's car on pelted with stones near Belabahali village. The rear windshield of the minister's SUV was damaged in the attack. Patra, however, escaped unhurt. "The incident happened when the minister was returning home and had to go past a Ganesh idol immersion procession. As he was on a private visit, he had tuned down security arrangement as he was in his Assembly constituency. Taking advantage of the crowded immersion procession, a few goons attacked the minister's car with stones. As the incident triggered a stampede, the trouble-makers fled from the spot under the cover of darkness," said SDPO Maheswar Sethy.

"The goons have been identified and a special squad has been constituted to nab them," the police officer said.

Vehicular traffic was disrupted for about an hour-and-a-half along the busy NH-20 as the minister's supporters staged a noisy protest by the blocking the highway near Jarda traffic junction. The highway was also blocked at Ghatagaon police station area.

"No untoward incident was reported during the blockade. The agitators were demanding the arrest of the attackers. They later lifted the blockade with the police assuring them of tough action against the culprits," Sethy said.

In the mineral-rich district, the BJD is facing massive infighting. A source said that the stone-pelting incident was the handiwork of breakaway factions of the BJD. Recently a group of BJD supporters had launched murderous attack on rivals.

Sources said A few close relatives of Patra had allegedly orchestrated the attack.