Sambalpur: Tension prevailed high at Talbhata near Khetrajpur as the residents demanding tanker water supply staged a road blockade on Khetrajpur-Remad road and were manhandled by cops Tuesday. Four residents were injured in the assault and hospitalised.
Locals condemned the highhandedness of the cops. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded during the five-hour blockade.
The residents said they were experiencing a sever water scarcity. Despite repeated complaints, the administration paid no heed. They staged a road blockade on the main road by placing empty tumblers and buckets Tuesday.
Officials led by tehsildar Debendra Nanda, additional SP Amarendra Rana and SDPO Mihir Panda reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control. However, the locals refused to heed their plea for lifting the blockade until they were assured of regular water supply by tankers.
Cops started using force to clear the road of the blockade. They beat up some agitators and this further angered the locals. More locals rushed to the spot and put up a stronger resistance.
The Sambalpur municipal commissioner reached the spot and promised to provide drinking water by tankers every day. After this, the agitation was suspended. SP Sanjeev Arora denied any highhandedness by the cops.
PNN
