Locals clash with Odisha police demanding arrest of murder accused

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Nayagarh, Feb 20:

Locals and police were engaged in a pitched battle as protest in front of a police station in Odisha turned violent after agitators clashed with the cops demanding arrest of a murder accused.

Scores of demonstrators were agitating in front of Godipada Police Outpost under Odagaon block in Odisha’s Nayagarh district this morning demanding arrest of a murder accused. Moments later, they started pelting stones and hurled crude bombs at the outpost following which the men in khakhi lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

Besides, the mob also damaged the police vehicles.

The top police personnel, including Nayagarh sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) and additional superintendent of police (SP), reached the spot to bring the volatile situation under control. The cops also fired rubber bullets to calm down the situation, but in vain. However, the SDPO and additional SP are among five policemen who were injured in the incident.

“The protesters were agitating in front of the outpost. They turned violent and pelted stones, damaged the police jeep, broke the back door of the outpost. Following this, we resorted to mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control,” Nayagarh Sub Collector Nrusingha Charan Swain said.

The locals were protesting the registration of a death as a case of unnatural death and subsequent release of the suspect.

According to reports, Rankanidhi Mohapatra’s body was found from under a bridge here on Tuesday (February 16). Family members had alleged that the youth hailing from Panchama village in the district was murdered by his maternal cousin.

The complainants sought the accused be booked. But, the cops allegedly registered an U/D case and did not arrest him.