Police on Tuesday arrested an officer of the Indian Army hailing from neighbouring Chhattisgarh for using red beacon atop his numberless car which had created panic among the villagers in Bhaludunguri under Khaprakhol block in Balangir district.
According to reports, the Patnagarh police arrested lt Col Sailendra Singh Som and two others from Chhattisgarh who were detained since Monday night.
On Monday, five persons along with three from Chhattisgarh had reached Bhaludunguri village for purchase of around 500 acre of land in the area, sources said.
With the vehicle bearing no registration number and a beacon fixed atop it, the villagers grew suspicious and informed the police about it.
The men from Chhattisgarh were inquiring about people having large patches of land and their details. Even, they went to the local tehsil office to get a fair idea about the valuation of the land in that particular area.
Neela Sahu and Manoranjan Pradhan from Kapasipalli village were accompanying these three men from Chhattisgarh.
“They were inquiring about land deals. We grew suspicious as they had come by a vehicle which did not have a number plate and had a red beacon on it,” a complainant said.
Notably, Khaprakhol block is a Maoist-affected area and use of red beacon is restricted.
“We received complaints from villagers that they are not willing to sell their land. We brought them (Chhattisgarh men) to the police station. We found RoR (Record of Rights) and land valuation certificates from their possession. A case was
registered after verification,” Khaprakhol PS IIC Bhanu Shankar Yadav said.