Two cops including six hurt in group clash in Odisha’s Boudh district

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Ghantapada (Boudh), Jan 18:

At least six persons including two IICs, two policemen and two villagers were injured as two rival groups clashed over worship of a deity at a shrine in Malikud village under Kantamal police limits in Odisha’s Boudh district on Saturday.

Kantamal IIC Bijay Oram, Manamunda IIC Bhabananda Pradhan were among the six persons injured in the attack by the villagers. Also windshield of a police vehicle was damaged in the attack by the villagers.

According to police, there was a long-standing dispute between two rival groups of villagers of Malikud village over worshipping of Kunden Budhi Devi, a shrine in the same village.

The dispute turned violent on Saturday when Kshyamanidhi Kanhar of Malikud village first performed the ritual of Goddess Kunden Budhi Devi and was on the way to Andhari Pitha, another shrine to perform ritual, when he was asked by the rival group members to refrain from it.

As Kshyamanidhi went ahead with his ritual, a clash ensued between the two groups.

The villagers pelted stones and attacked policemen with sticks when they were on their way to resolve the dispute, police said.