Tribals Oppose ‘Detention’ Of 2 Youths, Gherao Police Station In Odisha’s Rayagada

Rayagada: A day after villagers ransacked a police station in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, tribals on Sunday gheraoed a police station in Rayagada alleging illegal detention of two youths by police.

According to sources, hundreds of Dongaria Kondh tribals from 121 villages under Kalyansinghpur block of Rayagada and Kalahandi district led by president of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti Sikaka Lada gathered at Kalyansinghpur police station in the district. Armed with traditional weapons, they demanded release of the two youths, who had been picked up by police and detained in the police station.

Lada said three youths belonging to their tribe, Puspa Sikaka, Bari Sikaka and Drinju Kruska, had gone to a market in Lanjigarh on Saturday. When they were returning home from the market, the police picked them up. One of the youths managed to escape while being taken to the police station and informed his villagers.

“The Dongaria youths are innocent and have no connection with the Maoists. The police have unnecessarily detained them on suspicion of being Maoist informers,” he added. Demanding immediate release of the detained youths, he threatened that they would intensify the agitation against police action.

The agitating tribals also tried to forcefully enter the police station. But they were stopped by the police deployed there.

As tension prevailed in the area, additional police force was deployed at Kalyansinghpur. One platoon of CRPF and personnel of OSAP and SOG, 6 IICs and an additional SP have been rushed to the place to maintain law and order.

It may be noted that some villagers had gone on a rampage and ransacked Phiringia police station in Kandhamal district before setting it on fire on Saturday, alleging that the IIC and two home guards were involved in smuggling of ganja in the area.

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