Berhampur: At least four policemen including two senior cops sustained injuries in attack by angry mob in T Gobindapur area in Berhampur of Ganjam district Tuesday morning while trying to remove a road blockade. Similarly, six residents were also injured in the clash between the police and the villagers.
The injured senior cops have been identified as Pattapur Police Station IIC Ramesh Chandra Pradhan and ASI PK Patnaik. The injured cops were rescued and admitted to Mohana community health centre (CHC) by media personnel, present on the spot.
Later, the two senior cops were shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for better treatment.
Trouble started after a cashew-laden truck was waylaid and its driver robbed by a gang near Taptapani ghat Monday night. The miscreants beat up the driver and took away all his cash and other valuables.
Locals heard about the loot Tuesday morning. They gathered at the square and blocked traffic, demanding arrest of the miscreants.
After the news spread hundreds of res
idents from at least five villages in the area staged a road blockade on the Gobindapur and Jakarapali road and demanded action against the miscreants and their immediate arrest.
Later, the police team led by IIC Ramesh, reached the spot and tried to remove the road blockade.
However, the locals alleged that instead of taking action, Pattapur Police tried to remove the road blockade by force and resorted to mild lathi charge in which at least six persons sustained injury.
As police’s action sparked sharp reaction among the locals, they went berserk and hurled stones at the police team. Patapur IIC sustained injury on his head, leg and hand along with ASI PK Patnaik.
Ganjam Sub Collecter Siddharth Shankar Swain, SP Brijesh Kumar Rai have reached the spot along with a Magistrate and are trying to pacify the angry mob.
Two platoon of police force have been deployed in T Gobindapur area to maintain the law and order situation.
