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Scuffle leads to full-scale battle

Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Victims of violence: Shattered villagers in front of their burnt huts in Alasua, which are torched by the angry mob on Thursday.

BHUBANESWAR: A minor scuffle among youths of two neighbouring villages, Daruthenga and Alasua, got converted into a full-scale battle in the late hours of Wednesday, leaving a few hundred houses gutted with inhabitants spending chilly nights under the sky. Several innocent villagers lost everything that they had treasured for their future.

Many domestic animals were also charred as villagers of Daruthenga village set houses of Alasua on fire. Though 20 policemen were present on the spot, they could not stop the marauding villagers from carrying out the heinous crime. Nine police personnel were injured in the attack.

It came as a rude shock for Bipin Naik of Alasua Bhoi Sahi who was getting prepared to marry off his daughter in a few days. He had sold a piece of land and arranged about Rs 1.5 lakhs for the purpose. On Thursday, he became numb showing the bundles of half-burnt currency notes to all those who came to visit the victims.

Moreover, he lost 10 packets of rice and 35 packets of paddy as his dream was shattered.

Anadi Bhoi, another resident of Alasua, said he did not want to live further to lead the life of a beggar. “ I have lost everything including utensils.” There was tragic scene all round with female members weeping inconsolably.

Meanwhile, the administration had made arrangements for temporary shelter for about 200 households. The victims would be provided three days’ relief.

Khurda police deployed two platoons of police force to keep the situation under control. “About 400 villagers from Daruthenga had come to cleanse the Alasua Bhoi Sahi. Had our men not resisted them, it would have been a disaster,” Superintendent of Police Amitabh Thakur, who was also injured in the clash, said.

Meanwhile, all young male members of Daruthenga village have vanished from their houses fearing police action. Communist Party of India (Marxist) demanded that relief be provided for more than seven days instead of three days.

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