Nayagarh: Tension ran high near Khilarpatna crematorium on Sikharpur-Kajalaipali road under Sarankul police limits Saturday after two persons died and two others rendered critical in firing following a group clash between the residents of Panibhandar and Badhi Sahi over drainage of water.
The deceased were identified as Ram Chandra Pradhan (25) and Silu Pradhan (24) of Panibhandar village. Chandan Pradhan (17) and Manoj Kumar Swain (22) of the same village suffered critical injuries after the bullets hit their bodies.
Earlier, the injured persons were rushed to the Sarankul community health centre where Ramachandra succumbed to his injuries. Later, the other three were shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Nayagarh where doctors pronounced Silu dead and asked to shift Manoj and Chandan to Bhubaneswar as they were in critical state.
The Sarankul police led by the SP and a forensic team rushed to the spot and started an investigation while a platoon of police force was deployed at the spot.
Police are yet to make any arrest in the case while no complaint has so far been filed at the police station, police IIC Manoj Kumar Satpathy said. The Panibhandar villagers, apprehending further attack, moved to Sarankul police station for protection.
Sources said, the villagers of Badhi Sahi had constructed an embankment across a rivulet passing through Panibhandar village. As a result, a mild shower would cause inundation at Panibhandar village, leaving the villagers stranded.
In a bid to get rid of the water-logging problem, the Panibhandar villagers were demolishing the embankment at about 11 AM when the Badhi Sahi people raised an objection.
The elders of Panibhandar came back stating to convene a meeting in the village to sort out the problem. However, some youths of Panibhandar who had stayed back had an altercation with the Badhi Sahi villagers.
This led to a scuffle between the two sides when some youths of Badhi Sahi village allegedly opened fire on the rival villagers leading to the fatal injuries.
PNN
