Locals bite off fingers of police personnel during land demarcation protest in Athagarh

Tension ran high at Kolathpangi in Athagarh of Cuttack after a scuffle broke out between police personnel and the public during a land demarcation in the area on Tuesday afternoon. Two police officers sustained grievous injuries after allegedly being attacked by the protestors.

According to sources, the brawl broke out when the local tehsildar, police and Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) went to the village to carry out land demarcation. 

The clash turned violent after the women of Dalit Sahi opposed the move and faced off with the police, sources informed.

The scuffle took an ugly turn when some irate women bit off the fingers of Gurudijhatia police station inspector in charge (IIC) Ranjan Kumar Pradhan and Athagarh police station assistant sub-inspector Sakuntala Pradhan leaving them critically injured.

“We went to demarcate one individual’s 41 acre land and Ultra Tech company’s land. The local residents claim that the land belongs to them. However, they could not furnish any document supporting their claim,” said Priyabrata Das, Athagarh tehsildar.

“Some locals bit off fingers of Gurudijhatia police station IIC during the protest. A case will be registered and necessary action will be taken,” said Satyabrata Lenka, SDPO.

Apprehending any untoward incident, two platoons of police force have been deployed on the spot.