Bhubaneswar: Several tourists and pilgrims from Chhattisgarh were injured after being allegedly attacked by some staff of a toll gate near Mundali in Odisha’s Cuttack district.
Sources said tourists had travelled in two buses up to Rameswaram and were returning to Chhattisgarh via Odisha. Their last stop was Nandankanan after which they were returning home when the incident happened. They were attacked with wooden planks and sticks at the toll gate.
A verbal duel broke out between the tourists and the toll gate staff over the payment of fees for two buses. A total of 11 tourists and three toll gate staff were reportedly been injured in the incident. Some women and children have also reportedly sustained injuries in the attack.
While four persons have so far been detained in this connection, the authorities have closed the toll gate till further orders.
Athagarh sub-collector Hemant Swain said an investigation is being conducted into the incident and stern action will be taken against the guilty.
All the tourists have been kept in safe custody and arrangements are being made to send them in buses, the sources added.
