Group clash in Odisha’s Balasore ahead of Ram Navami; Police IIC among 3 cops injured

Balasore: Tension spread across Balasore town following a group clash yesterday night ahead of Ram Navami festival. At least three police personnel were injured in the violence.

According to reports, clash between two groups erupted at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday at Golapokhari Chhak situated at 200 metre away from Balasore town police station over tying of flags and Jai Shree Ram slogan ahead of Ram Navami.

Sources said that people belonging to a particular community opposed such activities by another group of people at the locality that took uglier turn.

On receiving information, Balasore Town Police Station IIC Parsuram Sahoo reached the site and tried to control the situation. While he was taking one person to the police station, was attacked with stones following which he along with two other police personnel was injured in the incident.

The group that attacked the police personnel managed to rescue that person from police. When the police force tried to pacify the accused group people, the instigators started pelting stones at the former.

After the situation turned violent, the police opened blank fire to disperse the agitators and detained 3-4 persons. IGP (eastern range) Himanshu Kumar Lal, Balasore SP Sagarika Nath and MLA Swarup Kumar Das reached the site to bring the situation under control.