Police Team 'Attacked' For Asking People To Follow COVID-19 Norms In Odisha

Baripada: At least three police personnel, including an ASI of Sarat Police Station, were injured after being allegedly attacked by a mob at Debanbahali village under Udala block of Mayurbhanj district on Saturday evening.

The police team had gone to the village, where the traditional ‘Chaiti Parba’ was going on, to convince the locals to not gather as they would be at the risk of becoming vulnerable to the Coronavirus.

The injured cops have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Biswajit Das Mohapatra, a constable and a homeguard.

As per reports, ASI Biswajit Das Mohapatra received the information regarding the gathering of thousands of people at the Chaiti Parba in Debanbahali village. Fearing many could contract the virus amid the ongoing pandemic, he rushed to the village with a police team and asked the villagers to stop the event. However, a group of people attacked the cops.

ASI Biswajit Das Mohapatra said, “After receiving the information about the gathering of 5,000 to 6,000 people in the village for the festival, we rushed to the spot at around 10.30 pm on Saturday. When the villagers saw the police van, they started running away. However, a group of mob came towards us and vandalised our van.”

“We tried to convince them to not gather at the spot as it might spread the Covid-19 infection. They attacked us. Later, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) reached the village with a team and rescued us,” added the ASI.

“When we reached the spot, we searched for the festival organisers and saranch but could not spot them. Later, a group of villagers attacked us and damaged the van,” alleged a constable Damodar Tudu who also accompanied the police team to the village.

Two of the three police personnel have been admitted to the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College for treatment.

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)