Post News Network
Jeypore, March 21: Tension flared up in Kalasahandi village under Anta gram panchayat in Koraput district Friday evening after supporters of former samiti member Ramakrushna Pujari, who was murdered Thursday, attacked the houses of two accused in the village. They also attacked another accused but he was rescued by the police. But the supporters of Pujari set his bike on fire.
Pujari was hacked to death by over 15 persons while he was taking his wife Thursday morning on a bike to drop her at the school where she serves as a teacher. After his murder, his wife had lodged a complaint with the police on the incident and named 15 persons as accused.
A group of supporters of Pujari attacked Ghasi Kumbhar, one of the accused, while he was going on a bike in Kalasahandi village Friday evening. But, the police deployed in the village rescued Ghasi from the attackers. However, Pujari’s supporters torched his bike in presence of the police. Thereafter, they attacked the houses of two other accused –Pitabasa Mandal and Mane Harijan.
They entered the house of Pitabasa by breaking open the door and ransacked his house. Though police were present in the village, they failed to restrain Pujari’s supporters from carrying out the attack.
However, no complaints regarding these incidents were lodged with the police till the report was filed.
On the other hand, additional superintendent of police V Raghuveer Rao went to the village. He met with Pujari’s widow Binodini and held talks with her over the prevailing situation. During the talks, she expressed displeasure over the investigation being conducted by Jeypore Sadar police and demanded immediate arrest of all the accused.
Meanwhile, Sadar police said they have detained some of the accused persons including Ghasi. Police have also formed three teams to nab the accused. If required, the teams will be sent to other districts to conduct raids and nab the culprits, Sadar police said. Superintendent of police Charan Singh Meena said two teams have been formed by the district police headquarters to nab the accused.