Jaleswar: Two poll officials on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duty in West Bengal were brutally assaulted by villagers at Rajnagar village under this block, and Raibania police limits in Balasore district on suspicion of being child lifters, sources said Wednesday.
The two officials, Sumit Hazra and Som Hansda, both bank employees deputed for election-related SIR duty in Baliagaria block under Nayagram police in neighbouring West Bengal, had reportedly come to the Subarnarekha River near the border village for a bath as they were off duty Wednesday.
After bathing, the duo sat at a local shop where illagers questioned them about their identity.
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Growing suspicious during the conversation, some locals allegedly branded them as “child lifters” and began assaulting them.
Raibania IIC Champabati Soren, ASI Rameshwar Soren and other police personnel, along with local scribe Santosh Jena, rushed to the spot to rescue the officials.
However, the mob allegedly did not spare them either. An investigation has been launched against those involved in the attack.