Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Patnagarh, May 31:

Odisha police today arrested an officer of Indian Army hailing from neighbouring Chhattisgarh for using red beacon atop his numberless car which had created panic among the villagers in Bhaludunguri under Khaprakhol block in Bolangir district.

car with beacon

According to reports, Patnagarh police arrested Lt Col Sailendra Singh Som and two others from Chhattisgarh who were detained since last night.

Earlier yesterday, five persons along with three from Chhattisgarh had reached the Bhaludunguri village for the purchase of around 500-acre land in the area, sources said.

With the vehicle bearing no registration number and a beacon fixed atop the vehicle, the villagers grew suspicious and informed the local police about the incident.

Besides, they were inquiring about people having large patches of land and their details. Even, they also went to Tehsil office to get a fair idea about the valuation of the land in that particular area.

Neela Sahu and Manoranjan Pradhan from Kapasipalli village were accompanying these three men from Chhattisgarh.

“They were inquiring about land deals. We grew suspicious as they had come in a vehicle which did not have a number plate and had a red beacon on it. We informed the police about it who reached the spot within no time,” a complainant, Bharat Sahu said.

Notably, Khaprakhol block is a Maoist-affected area and use of red beacon is restricted.

“We received complaints from villagers that they are not willing to sell their land. We had brought them to the police station. We found RoR (Record of Rights) and land valuation certificates from their possession. A case was registered after verification,” Khaprakhol IIC, Bhanu Shankar Yadav said.

Meanwhile, SDJM court granted bail to Som after he admitted to misusing the red beacon.