As many as eight people sustained injuries in separate pre-poll violence at different places in Odisha on Monday.
Ahead of the elections to the three-tier Panchayati Raj bodies, the political atmosphere boiled down to a serious confrontation between two groups of supporters from different political parties at Basudevpur in Digapahandi block of Ganjam district yesterday.
At least seven people including two women were injured in the clash. Identified as K Kishore Kumar, Kalia Sethi, K Shibaram, Landa Mallik, Dibyasingha Reddy, B Puni Reddy and A Gauru, all of those injured in the incident have been admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
Sources said, the two warring outfits faced off each other during the campaigning rally of local sarpanch candidate Rabi Narayan Baghi when some members from one group attacked the supporters of other faction with sharp weapons and wooden sticks.
Digapahandi Police wasted little time rushing to the spot and controlled the situation. An investigation has been ordered into the incident while police have said that a close vigil is being kept on the developing situation.
In another incident, some miscreants allegedly attacked BJD’s Zone-24 Zilla Parishad candidate Dharnidhar Sahu while he was campaigning at Potal village under Pipili block of Puri district on Monday.
The incident infuriated the supporters of BJD and the candidate who later blocked Puri-Bhubaneswar National Highway near Teisipur in the block as a mark of protest against the goondaism.
Pipili Police managed to pacify the agitating workers of the ruling party and assured them of proper investigation and action against the assailants involved in the attack.