Cuttack: Workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) entered into a violent clash outside the block office at Athagarh in Odisha’s Cuttack district ahead of a scheduled Panchayat Samiti meeting on Tuesday.
Several people, including police personnel, were injured as members of both political parties reportedly fought a pitched battle pelting stones and indulging in physical assault.
According to sources, the confrontation broke out before the arrival of the local MLA, who was scheduled to attend the meeting. Supporters of both parties had gathered near the block office, shouting slogans and holding banners. Verbal duel soon led to physical confrontations and the site virtually turned into a battlefield.
As violence escalated, police personnel deployed on the spot resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
At least six people, including the Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Athagarh, were seriously injured in the incident. All the injured have been admitted to a hospital for treatment.
To prevent any further flare up, the administration invoked Section 163 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and deployed forces in the area. Additional SPs, two Deputy SPs, and three platoons of police personnel have been deployed in the area to monitor the situation.
As palpable tension prevailed in the area, police are maintaining a strict vigil in order to prevent any fresh incident.
