Jharigaon: An Anganwadi worker allegedly ran amok inside the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court premises at Jharigaon in Nabarangpur district Saturday, attacking an Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) and a Court Assistant Sub-Inspector (CASI) with an iron rod concealed in her vegetable bag.
The accused, Sanamati Majhi, 30, from Karsahandi village under Jharigaon police limits, allegedly attempted to enter the courtroom but was stopped for not having permission. She subsequently approached APP Pradeep Kumar Patnaik, who asked her to sit on a nearby chair.
While he was attending a phone call, she allegedly pulled out an iron rod from her bag and struck him on the head. Hearing his cries, Judicial Magistrate Smita Lakra, CASI Minaketan Gantayat and other court staff rushed to intervene.
During the scuffle, the judge and Gantayat also reportedly sustained head injuries. The injured APP and CASI were taken to Jharigaon Community Health Centre (CHC) for treatment. Following a written complaint by Patnaik, Jharigaon police registered a case (219/2026). Inspector-in-Charge Rachita Madkami is investigating the incident.
Majhi was apprehended at the spot and detained at the police station. Majhi is reportedly facing trial in a dowry harassment case (GR Case No. 14/2026), in which evidence was recorded November 2. Patnaik said she had earlier approached him seeking assistance in securing maintenance from her husband. He expressed shock that an attack could take place inside court premises.
Umarkot Bar Association secretary Krushna Chandra Nanda, former president Prashant Kumar Sahu, former secretary Santanu Kumar Bahinipati and advocate Kali Prasad Nanda visited the spot and condemned the incident.
Sahu raised concerns over advocates’ safety, while Bahinipati termed the attack on judicial functionaries a blow to the Constitution. Chief Judicial Magistrate Seema Tripathy, District and Sessions Judge Sangram Keshari Patnaik, Additional SP Aditya Kumar Sen and SDPO Shubhendu Sabar also visited Jharigaon and held discussions with Judicial Magistrate Smita Lakra.
