TV
Tensions escalated in Jogisurada village, located in Bolangir district, when a police operation was met with resistance from incensed locals, on Sunday. The situation arose following a fire at the home of Trinath Thanapati, the priest of the local temple.
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According to sources, the village witnessed tension following the arrest of five residents accused of involvement in the inferno. The local community, in protest of these detentions, took several police officials captive, including an IIC and a SDPO. This occurred for more than four hours and highlighted the villagers’ discontent.
Trinath had accused fellow villagers of deliberately igniting the blaze.
In response, Loisingha Police arrested five individuals from the village, which the locals claim was done without sufficient evidence, sparking loud protests. The discontented villagers reportedly detained a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and the Inspector from Loisingha Police Station as they conducted their inquiry.
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Following the escalation, additional police forces were dispatched to the tense village in a bid to quell the unrest and restore law and order. Police continue to probe the root of the incident as tensions remain high.
The standoff persisted for hours, during which negotiations were conducted, eventually resulting in the police officers being released unscathed.
