Hundreds of villagers stage overnight dharna in front of Khandapada PS

Khandapada: Over 500 villagers have been sitting on dharna since last night in front of the Khandapada Police Station in Nayagarh district protesting arrest of ten persons including ruling-BJD’s block vice president.

According to sources, residents, including women of Bodasa village walked for seven kms up to the Khandapada Police Station to lodge their protest demanding immediate release of the arrested persons.

As per the latest reports, officials of the district administration have reached the spot and are trying to pacify the agitators. To prevent any untoward incident, the administration has deployed four platoons of police at the spot.

According to sources, tension has been simmering between the villagers and Dalit families over entry into a Shiva temple for some time. On June 16, some villagers allegedly vandalised houses of some Dalit families and thrashed them, following which police complaints were lodged by both the parties. Later the administration intervened and relocated the Dalit families, informed sources.

However, the police raided the village last night and arrested 10 persons for attack on Dalit families triggering resentment among the villagers.