Sharmili Mallick

Puri: Tension flared up outside Astaranga Police Station in Puri district on Sunday after some villagers of Jhadalinga village staged protest outside the police station demanding release of their relatives, who were detained in connection with the vandalisation of the local Primary Heath Centre (PHC) following the death of a co-villager in the hospital on Saturday evening.

As per reports, a youth identified as Kedar Tandi of Jhadalinga village and working as a contractual employee of SBI met with a road accident on yesterday afternoon.

Locals rescued Kedar and immediately admitted him to the Astaranga PHC in a critical condition. However, after his health condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Community Health Centre (CHC) at Charichhak and later declared dead by the doctors.

Villagers blamed medical negligence behind the death of Kedar and vandalised the PHC. They also attacked the staff of the PHC.

On getting information, Astaranga Police rushed to the spot and detained three persons and later picked up 17 more from the village late in the night.

Today morning, the relatives of the 20 detainees, including the family members of Kedar sit on a protest outside the police station demanding their release.

"A case has been registered against Kedar's family members and some village for vandalising the property of Astaranga hospital and creating ruckus. Action will be taken as per law and further investigation into the incident is underway," said the IIC of Astaranga Police Station.

(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)

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