Pottangi: Tension continued to escalate along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border in Kotia panchayat of Pottangi block in Koraput district over the Andhra Pradesh panchayat elections, with police personnel from the two states having a face-off Tuesday. Villagers in Neridibalsa op posed the deployment of Odisha Police, raising slogans of “Odisha go back”.
They also removed a police barricade from the area. When Odisha Police tried to disperse the agitated villagers, Andhra Pradesh Police intervened and confronted their Odisha counterparts, leading to a face-off between the police forces of the two states. According to reports, tension had been brewing since Monday, when Odisha Police stopped a rice-laden truck registered in Andhra Pradesh while it was heading towards Neridibalsa village. The move angered local residents, who questioned the police over why the truck had been detained.
On Tuesday, villagers again assembled and demanded that Odisha Police withdraw from the area. When officials rushed to the spot, protesters stopped their vehicles near Tadibalsa village, blocked the road and demanded the withdrawal of the deployed police personnel. The officials tried to pacify the villagers but failed to convince them. They eventually left their vehicles behind and walked to Neridibalsa.
On being informed, Kora put Sub-Collector and Kotia panchayat nodal officer Fabi Rashid, additional district magistrate Tapan Nayak, Pottangi tehsildar Devendra Bahadur Singh Dharua and special officer Sourabh Kanta Das were among the officials who visited the area. Koraput MLA Raghuram Mach, Kotpad MLA Rupu Bhatra and former MP Jayaram Pangi also reached Neridibalsa and appealed to the villagers to remain calm.
However, the protesters refused to relent, insisting that the area belonged to them and raising slogans asking the Odisha officials and police to leave. More tension escalated along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border after some youths from Upar Sembi and Dhulipadar villages, who support Andhra Pradesh, allegedly threw chilli powder at Odisha administrative officials, police personnel and members of various organisations.
A scuffle also broke out between the villagers and members of various political parties and organisations, including BJP workers, BJD leaders Laichan Khara, former MLA Raghuram Padal and BJD district president and former MP Jhina Hikaka. In view of the tension, Odisha has deployed three platoons of police in the area. Nine executive magistrates have been assigned to monitor the situation and deal with any untoward incident. Another four platoons will be deployed Wednesday, if required.
