Berhampur: The voting for the first phase of three-tier panchayat elections might have come to an end Wednesday but the simmering tension between various political groups flared up again amid reports of post-poll violence in the region.
Miscreants allegedly torched a two-wheeler repair garage of one Rabindra Jena at Rohigaon under Sadar police limits in Ganjam district, late Wednesday night. Several vehicles and bicycles were reduced to ashes in the fire. Tension was palpable in the area as a posse of police force was deployed in the village.
Properties worth lakhs of rupees were gutted in the incident, said Santosh Panigrahi, assistant fire officer.
The garage owner, who said that the incident was the fallout of past enmity, lodged a complaint with Sadar police. He said he was supporting the sarpanch candidate of a particular group for which some youths threatened him on the issue in the morning.
Based on the complaint lodged by the shop owner, Sadar Police launched a probe after booking 10 persons in this connection.