Berhampur: Tension gripped Tatadapali under Golanthara police limits in Ganjam district following a group clash over previous enmity Saturday.
At least eight persons were injured, three of them critically, in a bomb explosion and stone pelting between the rival groups. After getting information, a police platoon reached the village and lathi-charged the mob to disperse it.
Later, the injured were admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Seven persons from both sides were arrested and produced in a court, Golanthara IIC Alok Jena said. The arrested persons were Uma Sarathi, W. Balakrishna, V Jagannath, H Baluru, D Lokanath, G Jagannath and J Suresh.
Meanwhile, police personnel have been deployed in the village to avoid any further deterioration in law and order. According to sources, this isn’t the first time clashes were reported from the village. A similar face-off between the two groups was witnessed in April. A dispute that had begun with a petty issue over tying of buffaloes in a shed three years back is growing serious, a local said.
On several occasions, the local police and the administration have called meetings in the village and tried to resolve the matter amicably, but in vain.
As per reports, an altercation erupted between some people over the same issue Saturday morning. Initially, some women were involved, abusing each other. Things took an ugly turn after some men joined in the fight.
The men attacked each other with lathis and sharp-edged weapons. Later, some of them pelted stones at each other. They did not hesitate to hurl bombs at each other.
“Had there been a little delay in the arrival of police led by IIC Alok Jena, the encounter specialist of Ganjam police, the situation would have turned worse,” a woman of the village said.
Sadar SDPO Ashok Mohanty said the situation was under control and a police platoon was deployed in the village. Only seven had been arrested and more persons would be apprehended if needed, he added.
PNN