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Seven injured in group clash at Saba

BERHAMPUR: Seven persons were injured in a group clash over allegation of misappropriation of subsidized PDS rice by the local sarpanch at the Saba panchayat under Dharakote block in Ganjam district on Tuesday.

The clash occurred between the supporters of the tribal organisation, Lok Sangram Manch (LSM) and the supporters of the sarpanch. The whole panchayat was tense and volatile over the issue for the past few weeks. The Block Development Officer (BDO), supply inspector and the junior engineer of the Dharakote block had been to the village on Monday to investigate into the allegations of misappropriation of PDS rice by the sarpanch. They were allegedly gheraoed and locked up inside the panchayat office at the village by the supporters of the sarpanch. When this group released these officials at around 11 pm, they were again taken over by the supporters of LSM, who had complained against the sarpanch. The LSM activists did not let the officials leave the village till 9 am on Tuesday.

Bhanjanagar Sub-collector Pabitra Mandal along with Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), local tehsildar and police force had to rush to the saba village on Tuesday morning to rescue the officials. With promises from the Sub-collector, the villagers released three officials. The Sub-collector called the representatives of both groups to hold discussion. But while the discussion was on, the supporters of the LSM and the sarpanch clashed. Seven persons were injured in this violent clash, who were shifted to the Dharakote hospital. Armed policemen had to be deployed at the village to avoid further escalation of tension.

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