Boudh: At least 34 persons including five juveniles and two women were arrested on charge of attacking the police in Boudh district in which seven persons were injured, the police said today.
Police teams from Kantamal and Manamunda police stations had been to Malikud village under Kantamal police station yesterday following quarrel there between two groups of villagers over organising puja of the village deity.
However, members of both the group suspected that police were trying to help the other faction and attacked them with sticks and stone, Boudh SDPO, Kandarpa Behera, said.
Five policemen -- inspectors-in-charge of Kantamal and Manamunda, Bijaya Oram and Bhabananda Prodhan respectively, an assistance sub-inspector, a constable and a home guard -- were injured and all of them were hospitalised.
Senior police officers with reinforcement went to the spot and rounded up 34 persons, he said adding cases were registered against 60 persons.
While 29 persons were forwarded to jail, five juveniles including a girl were sent to the juvenile board-cum-CJM at Boudh.
Meanwhile, many people fled to nearby forests apprehending police raid in the village where armed police personnel were camping, Behera said adding the situation was under control.