Cops injured in mob attack, nine held

KENDRAPADA: Nine persons were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly attacking police officials at a religious function at Choramuha village in Jajpur district's Kuakhia police station area. Seven policemen, including officer in-charge (Kuakhia police station) Atulya Krushna Das, were injured when the mob pelted stones at them.
"All the accused are residents of Choramuha.We booked them for rioting, unlawful assembly and attempt to murder. They were remanded in jail custody after a local court rejected their bail pleas," the OIC said.
A mob of over 200 people had attacked a police team on Monday evening, when the men in uniform tried to stop an obscene dance during the Dola festival at the village. Besides the OIC, assistant sub inspector Jaladhar Rout, havildar Mohammad Hamid and constables Abhanshu Mohanty and Bijaya Behera and two others were also injured and had to be taken to hospital. Senior police officials along with security forces rushed to Chormuha to take stock of the situation.
"This is the handiwork of anti-social elements who tried to take advantage of the Dola festival . We have identified those behind the attack. We will deal with them strictly. The situation is now under control in Choramuha village and its nearby areas where security forces had been stationed to keep vigil," the OIC said.
Some of the accused were identified as Kulamani Panda (36), Prafulla Nath (45), Kishor Barik (31), Abhimanya Das (42), Nanda Kishor Das (36), Gajendra Das (32) and Bijaya Jena (29).
Meanwhile, several male villagers from Choramuha and its nearby areas have fled their homes in fear of police reprisal. "Police have arrested some innocent persons. The actual attackers escaped after the incident," said a villager of Choramuha.