Chhatrapur: At least 10 persons sustained critical injuries after residents of two villages clashed over the plucking of Kewda flowers from an orchard on a disputed piece of land near Yagnashala village under Chamakhandi police limits in Ganjam district Saturday.
The confrontation involved the groups from Yagnashala and Sindurapalli villages.
The villagers attacked each other with lathis and sharp-edged weapons, resulting in critical injury to over 10 persons.
On being informed, Chamakhandi police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Both groups have lodged complaints at the local police station.
Following an initial investigation, police have arrested 17 persons from both villages.
Chhatrapur SDPO Chandan Ghadei said more arrests would follow if others are found to be involved in the violence.
According to reports, a long-standing dispute exists between the two villages over the ownership of the land where the Kewda plant grows.
Pintu Nayak of Sindurapalli village alleged that while plucking Kewda flowers from a tree located on their land in the Yagnashala village, some people attacked them.
Similarly, some residents of Yagnashala also filed complaints claiming they were assaulted. Based on the cross-complaints, Chamakhandi police registered two separate cases 209/25 and 211/25), confirmed IIC Sabyasachi Malla of Chamakhandi police station.
Both sides have claimed ownership of the land in question. SDPO Ghadei stated that the matter of actual land ownership will be clarified after consulting the local tehsildar.
PNN
