Odisha: Five of a family critically injured in clash over land dispute

Balasore: Five members of a family including three women were critically injured in a clash between two families over land dispute in Talapadasahi village under Khantapda police limits in Balasore district today. The injured were one Anadi Gochhayat’s wife Shasibala, elder son Bijaya, daughter-in-law Manasi, another son Dipun and daughter-in-law Umarani.

As per reports, Anadi Gochhayat along with his family has been staying in Talapadasahi for past many years and doing agricultural activities in a nearby two-acre government land. But another villager Dhirendra Das and his family members staked claim over the government land where Anadi was carrying out farming. Following this, there was a dispute between both the families and a police case was registered in connection with this.

Today when Anadi’s sons, Bijaya and Dipun went to the disputed land for farming, Dhirendra Das and his son along with some other persons reached the spot. The two groups engaged in an altercation.

Later Dhirendra Das and his son along with aides attacked Anadi’s two sons. When Anadi’s wife and two daughter-in-laws ran to the spot to save Bijaya and Dipun, the attackers also attacked the three women with sharp weapons and lathis.

Hearing commotion, some villagers reached the spot and rescued Anadi’s five family members. The locals initially admitted the injured to Gopalpur Primary Health Centre and then shifted them to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital.

Based on complaints lodged by both the families against each other, the Khantapada Police launched an investigation into the matter.