Villagers Set Fire To Police Station Alleging IIC’s Involvement In Ganja Smuggling In Odisha’s Kandhamal

Phulbani: Villagers set fire to a police station alleging police involvement in ganja smuggling in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Saturday.

According to sources, a police van loaded with ganja had gone to Budhakamba village under Phiringia police station in the district on Thursday night. The villagers led by Phiringia sarpanch Jalandhar Kanhar and former sarpanch Biswaranjan Kanhar detained the vehicle.

They made a video shooting of the vehicle carrying ganja and sent it to Kandhamal SP alleging that the personnel of Phiringia police station were involved in smuggling of the contraband in the area. They demanded suspension of IIC Tapan Kumar Mohanty and two home guards Prasant Patra and Rabi Digal.

As no action was taken against the police officials, hundreds of villagers staged a demonstration at the main square of Phiringia. They raised slogans against the IIC and the home guards for helping the ganja smugglers.

After the demonstration continued for a long time, Phulbani SDPO along with police personnel went to the spot and tried persuade them to withdraw the road block. But the agitated villagers did not heed his words and instead reportedly tried to attack them.

The villagers then went to Phiringia police station and ransacked it. They also set fire to the files, document and furniture inside the police station. As tension mounted in the area, district SP along with police force left for Phiringia to bring the situation under control. The villagers’ agitation was continuing till the report was filed.