Toll gate ransacked after group clash

Bhubaneswar:  At least seven persons were injured and a toll gate ransacked in a fierce clash between groups belonging to two villages over past rivalry during holi celebrations in Puri district.

The incident occurred at around 12:30 pm and it is suspected that the clash was the fall out of  simmering tension between the two groups over the outcome of the recently concluded panchayat elections.

According to reports, the toll gate at Pipili has been ransacked by one of the groups following the clash that ensued between villagers of Siuala and Ujanipada villages near Dandamukundapur.

Four persons, who have sustained severe injuries in the clash, were initially admitted at Capital hospital in Bhubaneswar and were later shifted to Cuttack SCB Hospital in Cuttack. Three others are undergoing treatment at Pipili.

Sources said around 50 to 60 persons entered Pipili toll gate and later ransacked computers, CCTVs and other equipment and fled the spot.  Adequate police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

“We have no information about what triggered the tension in the area. We have deployed adequate force and stern action would be taken against those involved in violence at the toll gate,” said SDPO Dilip Tripathy.