Nuagaon: Tension prevailed in Paradhipi and Ragadisahi villages under Nuagaon block in Nayagarh district following a group clash over the construction of a check-dam Monday.
While no major casualty was reported, a police team had to rush to the villages to bring the situation under control.
According to sources, an amount of Rs 24 lakh was released from the SP’s fund for the construction of a check-dam in the panchayat. However, inhabitants of Paradhipi and Ragadisahi were at loggerheads as they both wanted the dam to be constructed in their own villages.
Villagers in Ragadisahi claimed that the check dam would benefit more people if it was constructed in their village. Similarly, villagers of Pradhipi claimed it would benefit more people if it was constructed in their village.
As they could not arrive at a consensus, villagers from Paradhipi and Ragadisahi opposed the construction of the dam at the present site when the contractor reached the site to start work. The villagers also entered into an altercation that led to a violent clash.
Angry villages attacked each other with lathis and pelted stones at each other. While many people were injured, no complaint was lodged with the police in this connection. Later, the contractor left the spot with the machines used for the digging of the check-dam.
Tension ran high till the time of filing this report.
PNN
