Anandapur: Violence broke out Friday at the site of the controversial Kusei bridge across NH-215 at Belabahali panchayat in Keonjhar district a day after construction commenced, with villagers opposing the project clashed with police.
According to reports, the villagers blocked the NH-215 on the second day of the construction work. They reportedly misbehaved with the police personnel and even hurled stones and bottles and broken glass shrapnel at police.
Police resorted to retaliatory action and hurled tear gas shells to control the mob. A pitched battle ensued between the villagers and police.
As police reportedly forced their entry into the village, the villagers intensified their attack on the former. The police reportedly lathicharged the protesters, leading to a bitter stand-off.
Meanwhile, police arrested three villagers over the melee. According to reports, the construction agency continued with its work on the bridge on the second day Friday with deployment of 25 platoons of police.
Members of Belabahali Surakhya Manch meanwhile submitted a five-point charter of demands before collector N Tirumala Nayak, SP Rajesh Pandit and sub-collector Maheswar Swain Friday afternoon.
Their demands included an 18-meter spur to protect people in three panchayats from floods, repair of 87-year-old Kusei bridge, withdrawal of cases against villagers, and operation of buses via Belabahali road.
Amid police security, construction work of the bridge continued on Barigan side. Angered at this, the villagers armed with lathis blocked Belabahali road.
Police then sealed the route, leading to traffic snarls. Later, the collector reached the spot and held discussions with the villagers about their demands.
At this time, trouble broke out, leading to a pitched battle between police and villagers.
By the time the report was filed, the clash was on while many people were seen leaving the village. PNN
