Group clash over suspected political rivalry leaves 4 people injured in Ganjam

A group clash allegedly sparked by political rivalry left over four people injured late Saturday night in Hindala village under the Kabisuryanagar police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district. The violence involved two rival groups, said to have been at loggerheads since the last general election.

According to reports, tensions escalated when members of both groups allegedly attacked each other with sharp weapons, resulting in serious injuries to four individuals, while several others suffered minor wounds. The injured were rushed to the Kabisuryanagar Community Health Centre and the Aska Sub-divisional Hospital. Those with minor injuries were discharged after treatment, while the four seriously injured persons were stated to be in stable condition at the time of filing this report.

Police have registered a case at the Kabisuryanagar police station and launched an investigation. Several individuals have reportedly been detained for questioning, though no official statement had been issued by the police at the time of reporting.

Eyewitness Account

One of the injured, Silu Bisoi, alleged that the assault was pre-planned. “We were on our way to our village in Kabisuryanagar when two individuals, identified as Sadasiba and Panda, began hurling insults at us. When I confronted them, they challenged us. They called us over, and when we went, we saw they were already waiting with swords and other weapons. Four people from our group sustained serious injuries, some on the head, others on the hands. This was a premeditated attack. I had filed an FIR against them earlier due to similar incidents,” Bisoi claimed.

Past Disputes and Allegations

As per local reports, the same groups clashed on multiple occasions previously, and police complaints were reportedly filed concerning earlier incidents. Those injured in the latest clash alleged that no action was taken on earlier complaints by the authorities.

Though the exact reason behind the confrontation was not officially confirmed at the time of reporting, the injured individuals alleged that political rivalry was the primary cause.