Jeypore: Tension continued to prevail at Gaganapur and Nandaguda villages under Jeypore Sadar police limits in Koraput district Sunday following the murder of two siblings during a group clash over farming on a government land the previous day.
Hiran Bag and his brother Laxman Bag of Nandaguda were hacked to death while five others were hurt in the clash.
Sensing possible deterioration of law and order, ASP Prabhat Pradhan, SDPO Rajendra Kumar Senpati, Sadar IIC Nirmal Mahapatra and ASI Siba Shankar Sahu reached the spot and took stock of the situation.
On the other hand, police personnel were deployed in both the villages to maintain law and order and a high alert was issued.
Reports said at least 35 persons of both villages were arrested till now in connection with the murders. A case was registered and a probe was launched.
Meanwhile, the bereaved family and Nandaguda villagers staged a demonstration by placing the bodies on National Highway-26 and burnt tyres. They sought immediate arrest of the main accused and compensation for the bereaved family.
Vehicular movement came to a standstill for more than five hours as hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on either side of the highway.
The agitators relented after the police assured them of arresting the main accused within three days.
According to sources, people of the both the villages have been claiming an eight acre government land near Matiguda village, even as the land was earmarked for construction of a temple.
The brothers were ploughing the disputed land when 50-60 people of the other village in objected to the act.
The situation soon escalated into an armed clash between the two groups which eventually resulted in the deaths of Hiran and Laxman.
The villagers held the administration responsible for the situation. The locals had earlier approached the administration seeking its intervention in the dispute, but to no avail, it was learnt. PNN