Sheer madness unfolded in the form of political violence after a gang of armed youths claiming allegiance to a particular political outfit unleashed terror at a village in Cuttack district on Sunday.
The assailants launched an attack at Chadheibandh village of Kalipoi Panchayat under Banki Baideshwar police limits in Cuttack.
The victims alleged that the miscreants not only ransacked their vehicles including a tractor but also damaged property of many local residents and pillaged houses before decamping with money and other valuable items.
The attack on the villagers is stated to be linked with past enmity developed during the recent Panchayat elections. The panic-stricken villagers said the attackers had harboured a grudge against them for not voting to a particular candidate.
The locals alleged that even though they had contacted the police immediately after the attack on them, the cops arrived after delay of around two to three hours.
“My husband was having food when suddenly some armed youths entered our house and dragged him out of the house. When we tried to oppose them, they did not even spare us,” sobbed a female villager.
Another elderly woman said some seven to eight youths wielding sharp weapons (Bhujali), pistol and lathis barged into their house, striking a terror. “They attacked us because we had not cast our votes in favour of their supported candidate,” she added.
The entire episode of violence has been captured in CCTV cameras installed in the village.
While a palpable tension has since been prevailing in the village, policemen have been deployed in the village to avoid any further escalation of violence.
Meanwhile, the police have started conducting raids at several places to nab the miscreants.
Despite several attempts, the IIC of Baideshwar police station could not be contacted for his reaction.