Clash over Cashew harvesting in Puri leaves 15 injured; police begin probe

A violent clash over the harvesting of cashew nuts has left 15 people injured in the Astaranga region of Puri district on Saturday. The confrontation occurred in the vicinity of the Devi river, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Astaranga police station. 

How The Clash Occurred?

The dispute involved two groups fighting over access to cashew orchards located in the river’s floodplain. The areas of Baliadia and Jagatsinghpur blocks, including the Tarasahi village, were the epicenter of this violent clash.

According to sources, this conflict broke out early in the morning when approximately 40 families from Baliadia village, who traditionally harvest cashew nuts from the cashew forests located on the islands of Devi river, crossed the river to begin their annual harvest.

However, they encountered resistance from people from two neighboring villages, which led to a violent altercation between the two groups. The clash quickly escalated, resulting in 15 individuals sustaining injuries, some of them reportedly in critical condition.

The injured individuals were immediately transported to the Astaranga Primary Health Center for medical treatment. Local sources stated that the situation remains tense, and the police have been deployed to maintain order in the area.

The harvest of cashew nuts from the forests near Devi river  has been a long-standing tradition for the locals, particularly those in Baliadia village.

Each year, people from this village cross the river to collect cashews, which are a vital source of livelihood for many in the region. However, this annual activity has become a point of contention in recent years, with increasing disputes over who has the right to harvest the cashews, leading to conflicts between the neighbouring communities.

Police Begin Probe 

Authorities are now investigating the incident, and the Astaranga police have launched a formal inquiry to look into the cause of the clash. Preliminary investigations are focusing on allegations of territorial disputes and unauthorized access to the cashew forest, as well as the possibility of long-standing grievances between the two groups. Police officials are attempting to mediate the situation and are working to ensure that peace is restored in the region.