Balasore: Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were imposed in Patrapada and Gabagaon areas in Balasore district Saturday, with simmering tension over immersion of Durga idols reaching a flashpoint with group clashes breaking out between the two villages.
With the situation spiralling out of control for the administration, the latter has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the area. Eight platoons of police were deployed in the area while 14 ASIs and IICs of Town police station, Rupsa, Chandipur and Marine police stations were present in the area to closely monitor the situation.
According to reports, police arrested six people and booked over 200 persons following complaints lodged at Chandipur police station and Sadar police station. The administration has imposed restrictions on meetings, gatherings, processions, and demonstrations.
According to police, the tableaux of Goddess Durga belonging to Patrapada was followed by that of Gabagon. Some people of Gabagaon were dancing to music in front of the tableaux of Patrapada. When the people of Patrapada objected, this led to a pitched battle, leaving six people grievously injured. The condition of Balaram Barik, one of the injured, was said to be critical and he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
For the last three days, there was no respite in tension in the two villages with locals of each village trying to settle scores against the other.
Saturday, some people had allegedly thrashed a boy at the local market.
After imposition of Section 144, all shops and markets in Patrapada remained shut Saturday while vehicular movement was affected from Sunahat Bhujakhia Pira hat to Patrapada and Gabagaon.
ASI of Town police station Sanatan Biswal lodged a complaint against some miscreants while 200 persons were booked on the basis of another complaint lodged by Suchandra Mahalik.
Desbandhu Das of Gabagaon filed a complaint at the police station while Gayadhar Sahu of panjibadh village has also lodged a complaint at Chandipur police station in this connection.
According to Dillip Kumar Sahu, the IIC of Town police station, the accused have been booked under various sections of IPC and Armed Act while stern action will be taken against them.
Police have arrested Dayanidhi Das, Manmath Majhi, Kalia Parida, Niranjan Majhi, Manoranjan Majhi and Satyaranjan Das. PNN
