12 injured in clash between theatre groups during ‘Mahabharat’ play in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Around a dozen people, including two police personnel, were injured after a clash broke out between two theatre groups during the staging of ‘Mahabharat’ in Odisha’s Ganjam district, police said on Thursday.The incident took place late Wednesday night at Markandi under the Golanthara police station limits when members of two theatre troupes from Ramapalli and Gobindapur villages got into a violent altercation, according to news agency PTI.According to police, both groups had been invited by villagers to perform the play as part of the concluding celebrations of the Thakurani Yatra."An argument broke out between members of the theatre committees, which escalated into a clash. They started throwing bricks and stones at each other," a police officer said.The situation worsened when police personnel deployed for festival duty intervened to bring the situation under control. The groups allegedly attacked the police with stones and crude bombs, officials said."They also allegedly used crude bombs with the intention to harm police personnel," the officer said.Police said 10 people from both groups have been arrested in connection with the incident so far.Officials also seized remnants of crude bombs, along with stones, bricks, bamboo sticks and other materials used during the clash from the spot.Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said the situation is now under control."Patrolling has been intensified and strict vigil is being maintained," he said.