Violence in Satkosia: Innocent villagers lodged in police custody, alleges BJP

Angul: BJP on Wednesday alleged innocent people have been arrested by police on false charges of involvement in violence after tigress Sundari allegedly killed a resident of Tainsi village in the district a few days back.

After visiting the village, BJP State vice-president Samir Mohanty said that police picked up some villagers without any charges and tortured keeping them in custody.

"Innocent people are kept in jail and that too without any charges. The lackadaisical attitude of the administration is saddening us," stated Mohanty.

"My son has been picked up by the police without any charges. He is innocent and has no involvement in any violence," said China Behera, mother of a youth, who is in police custody.

Mohanty further said wife of Trinath Sahu, who was allegedly killed in an attack by the tigress a few days back, is ill, but anyone from the administration is yet to visit her.

On October 22, after a resident of Tainsi village was allegedly killed by tigress ‘Sundari’, some villagers had blocked the Angul-Sambalpur National Highway-55 near Kanjaria Mundasahi and torched a police vehicle. They also pelted stones at police and senior government officials demanding compensation for family of the deceased and relocation of tigress Sundari. Angul Sub Collector, Tehsildar and Angul Inspector-in-charge (IIC) were injured in the stone pelting by agitating villagers.