Mob Scuffles With Cops During Sheep Fighting Competition In Odisha

A group of policemen from Jamada police station found themselves at the receiving end of mob fury when they tried to intervene during a sheep fighting competition at Guduta village in Mayurbhanj district.

As per reports, the village committee had organised a sheep fighting competition on Thursday in Guduta village which was attended by a large number of people from various settlements in and around the region. 

The massive congregation had converged at a small field near the village to watch the event which was organised without any authorisation from the concerned administration. People were also seen flouting Covid-19 norms during the game at ease.

On being informed, the Jamada police station in-charge Debasis Satpathy along with his team reached the spot and tried to clear the crowd by stopping the event. However, the locals expressed their resentment over the police’s order and refused to leave the place before the conclusion of the competition. 

Subsequently, a spat broke out between the cops and the locals. Moments later, some irate spectators   charged at the police personnel.

“Every year sheep fighting competition is held in Jamada region. Yesterday, it was conducted in Guduta village and we had gone to watch the event but returned after tension erupted,” said Somanath Mohanta, a villager.

Meanwhile, the SSP of Rairangpur refuted the allegations of any police personnel having been assaulted by the mob. He however, admitted that the villagers did resist the police orders.

“A Case has been registered against the villagers for violating Covid-19 norms and we have launched a probe in the matter,” said SSP Manoranjan Samal.

(By Ashutosh Mallik)