Youth’s ‘murder’ leads to violent group clash in Odisha’s Keonjhar, police force deployed

Tension prevailed high at Pandua village under Ramchandrapur police limits of Anandapur block in Odisha’s Keonjhar district after a youth was allegedly beaten to death over an old rivalry.

In revenge, the deceased youth’s kin attacked the family of the suspected killer, leaving a woman and two men critically injured. Soon things escalated leading to a group clash between two factions of the village.

Six platoons of police force had to be deployed in the village to maintain law and order. On being informed, Anandapur SDPO along with a police team rushed to the village and took stock of the situation.

According to sources, the incident took place at Pandua village when a young man from one group was going on a motorbike. He was allegedly stopped mid-way and beaten to death by a member of the rival faction, they said.

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Following this, members on the side of the deceased retaliated and set the assailant’s house on fire besides attacking his father, mother and brother, a police officer said.

As tension escalated, the police deployed additional personnel in the village to bring the situation under control.

“The police have arrested the main accused in the murder,” the officer said.