Angul: Mistaking policemen as child lifters as they were not in uniforms and the van they used did not have a beacon, residents of village in Banarpal area in Angul district attacked a patrolling party Monday night.
The police team had gone to the village to arrest an accused wanted in connection with theft of oil from the IOCL depot. Three policemen were injured in the attack and are undergoing treatment at a government hospital. The vehicle in which they were travelling also sustained damages.
According to a source, the policemen along with some IOCL officials went to the village Monday night. The policemen were in civil dress. The van they used did not have police sticker or beacon lights. Nor did it have number plate.
This led to apprehension in the minds of the villagers. When the policemen started searching for the accused, angry villagers confronted them. Before they could give their identities the villagers ganged up attacked them.
The situation in the village is tense Tuesday and to avoid any untoward incidents, two platoons of police forces have been deployed at the village, it was learnt.
PNN